Satellite Internet Helps Farms and Rural Businesses To Utilise the Power of the Internet
Satellite Internet Helps Farms and Rural Businesses To Utilise the Power of the Internet
The Internet has many excellent services for all industries, however, these often require reliable and fast connection speeds. Support for dial-up is being abandoned as more people adopt broadband technologies. It is estimated that around 80% of farmers use the Internet to manage their accounts and file annual tax returns. For the 20% that are not able to do this, they are losing out to more aggressive competition.
Whereas businesses in urban areas with reliable Internet connections have been using the web to file their annual tax returns for several years, farmers and other rural businesses mostly still rely on the traditional paper based returns.
However, although BT have not reached remote rural areas with their fibre optic cables, the UK is covered by satellite broadband. Satellite broadband does not receive a lot of publicity, it is certainly rarely mentioned on television or radio. However, the services are there for all to use, if only they were aware of the options.
Slow Dail Up Speeds Are Driving Farmers Away from the Internet In 2009 the Daily Telegraph reported how some farmers were being forced to stop using the Internet due to the poor connection speeds that dial up offers.
Internet Business
“Wyn Williams, an organic farmer from Rhiwhiriaeth, has given up communicating electronically with various farms and food processing companies because some attachments take 24 hours to download “
For many farmers it is not just about farming either. Diversification is required for many remote farmers to stay in business, with many opening bed and breakfast accommodation. However, without broadband running such businesses is almost impossible. In some communities people have to do their Internet work in the middle of the night when the local exchange is quietest, otherwise tasks that most people take for granted today, such as sending emails, is not even possible.
Satellite Internet Reaches Remote Farming Communities
The development of satellite Internet means that isolated businesses are now able to take advantage of the cost saving and money saving opportunities associated with having an Internet connection. Being remote is no longer a problem. A reliable internet connection is not only essential for managing annual accounts online. Many farmers manage their production online and keep in direct contact with suppliers and customers through the Internet. Also a lot of vital market information is available to farmers online to aid them with managing the farm, from localised weather reports to up to date crop and livestock prices.
Online Farming Services
For example, Sainsbury’s have launched several initiatives in the last decade to assist farmers. Starting with the Partnership in Fresh Food initiative Sainsburys have since developed the Supply Something New website that provides farmers with up to date information to make the best farming decisions. Sainbury’s also run SID, Sainsburys Information Direct, a business to business portal for its suppliers. Farmers that are a park of this network receive many advantages over those that are not.
Farming Co UK is another website that provides a wide range of information to aid farmers all over the country. This website provides farmers with a forum for exchange of information, ideas and facilitate a better understanding of the entire supply chain and market. It provides farming news, information on how to become a Sainburys partner supplier and provides information on best practice and the latest technological innovations in agriculture. Any farmer that is on the system automatically has a competitive advantage.
Satellite Internet Provides Rural Broadband Services
Many farmers still feel that they are left out of the Internet revolution simply because BT have been unable (or unwilling) to extend their fast internet services into rural areas. However, many farmers are receiving get high speed internet connections and as a result they are out performing the competition year on year.
They are using satellite internet services. Satellite internet has expanding rapidly in terms of coverage and quality of service. Speeds are often guaranteed, service is unbroken and coverage is universal over the UK. Whereas a few years ago satellite Internet was to expensive for the average farmer to afford, increased competition has driven prices down, and the benefits of having satellite broadband certainly outweigh the costs today.
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