Residents in the Wells constituency face significant challenges in accessing 5G technology, as revealed in a new report highlighting the UK's rural digital divide.

In the Wells constituency, which includes the city of Wells, Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury and Street and has a population of approximately 107,530, the state of digital connectivity presents a mixed picture. While full 4G coverage is available to 77.21% of the area, there are still 0.06% of locations completely without 4G service (not-spots) and a further 22.73% only have partial coverage. The situation is more stark with 5G coverage: the entirety of Wells falls into 5G not-spots, with 28.34% having no coverage at all and 71.66% only having partial coverage, leaving the region entirely devoid of full 5G services

The 'Connecting the Countryside' report, commissioned by Vodafone UK, reveals a significant gap between rural and urban areas in digital connectivity, with Wells and other rural communities lagging behind in 5G access.

The Coverage/Deprivation index, where 1 is the lowest level, places the area in a challenging position. Those living in deprived rural areas miss out on the transformative benefits that 5G technology could offer, from enhanced access to healthcare to expanded educational opportunities. The absence of reliable connectivity stifles progress in these communities.

Investments in digital infrastructure are crucial for the present and empowering these communities with essential digital skills for the future.

Fast 5G infrastructure can facilitate pre-emptive and swift responses to health emergencies, especially crucial in remote and hard-to-reach areas.

Virtual classrooms in rural areas could pave the way for distance learning opportunities and specialised qualifications, significantly broadening horizons for residents. In agricultural regions, 5G-enabled sensors can provide valuable data, leading to higher yields and improved crop quality, with efficiency improvements of up to 15 per cent.

The broadband provider believes greater 5G access will allow rural populations to pre-empt and react to health emergencies in a more timely fashion, especially in hard-to-reach places, as well as offering greater opportunities in education and agriculture.

Sarah Lee, Director of Policy & Campaigns at Countryside Alliance, said: "For far too long rural communities have been left behind when it comes to digital connectivity and are often unable to access the most basic of services online which many people take for granted.

"Those living and working in the countryside on the receiving end of this poor connectivity are only too aware of the benefits that the fast rollout of a nationwide 5G network could bring to their community and it is now time that these communities are connected."

Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer at Vodafone UK, said: 'We believe everyone should have access to connectivity and our research shows the alarming rate at which almost a million people living in deprived rural communities are being left behind. It's clear we need to accelerate the roll-out of the UK's 5G infrastructure, which is what we commit to do as part of our proposed merger with Three UK. We would close the rural digital divide by delivering 95% 5G Standalone geographic coverage by 2034.'

Simon Fell, Conservative MP for Barrow and Furness and Rural Connectivity Champion, said: 'New research published today lays bare the challenge we face to bring connectivity to our most deprived rural communities to match the rest of the country, and to ensure that millions of people are not left out from the future innovations that 5G can provide.

'We need to deliver 'nationwide coverage of standalone 5G to all populated areas by 2030, ensuring that we can bring its full benefits to villages and rural communities well beyond cities and towns' as set out in the Government's Wireless Infrastructure Strategy. Some of these innovations are already a reality, and simply need connectivity as the final piece of the puzzle. Whether in agriculture, with 5G-enabled sensors measuring soil quality and crop health, or in healthcare with virtual wards, 5G can bring tangible improvements to productivity, efficiency and quality of life.'