County APPG - Levelling Up Digital Connectivity in Counties

This County All‑Party Parliamentary Group report examines digital connectivity in county areas and the role it plays in levelling up local economies and communities.

Drawing on new analysis and engagement led by County Councils Network (CCN) the report finds that county areas continue to lag behind urban areas in access to reliable and high‑speed broadband, particularly gigabit connectivity.

While counties have made strong progress in delivering superfast broadband, the transition to gigabit is uneven and risks widening regional inequalities if current trends continue.

The report highlights that digital connectivity is now essential infrastructure, underpinning access to employment, education, healthcare, public services and social connection.

The report shows that poor connectivity disproportionately affects rural and county communities, contributing to weaker economic performance, barriers to home‑working and job‑seeking, and greater social isolation.

These challenges were significantly intensified during the pandemic and remain critical to economic recovery.

The report recognises the effective partnership between county and unitary councils and national programmes to date, but argues that future success depends on greater investment, stronger local involvement in delivery, clearer planning powers and long‑term funding certainty.

Without this, county areas risk again becoming the “last to be connected” as gigabit rollout accelerates elsewhere.

Key data findings from the report include:

• Around 190,000 premises in county areas cannot access basic 10 Mbit/s broadband.
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• County areas contain almost three times as many broadband blackspots as the rest of England combined 94% of county premises have access to superfast broadband, but only 21% can access gigabit 77% of London premises can access gigabit broadband.
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• Universal Credit claims in county areas increased by 95% during the pandemic, increasing reliance on digital access

Recommendations to government include:

• Prioritise gigabit investment in county and rural areas.
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• Devolve digital infrastructure budgets to upper‑tier county councils.
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• Ensure broadband is included as standard in new developments.
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• Strengthen strategic planning powers to align digital infrastructure with growth.
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• Improve affordability through targeted digital access schemes.
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• Address barriers to infrastructure delivery, including access to land