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Cited by 347ICT Impact and PoliciesICT in Developing CommunitiesRural development and sustainability

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The digital divide: Patterns, policy and scenarios for connecting the ‘final few’ in rural communities across Great Britain

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Philip, Lorna, Cottrill, Caitlin, Farrington, John, Williams, Fiona, Ashmore, Fiona·2017·Journal of Rural Studies
DOI 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.12.002
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Abstract

The Internet can bestow significant benefits upon those who use it. The prima facie case for an urban-rural digital divide is widely acknowledged, but detailed accounts of the spatial patterns of digital communications infrastructure are rarely reported. In this paper we present original analysis of data published by the UK telecommunications regulator, Ofcom, and identify and reflect on the entrenched nature of the urban-rural digital divide in Great Britain. Drawing upon illustrative case vignettes we demonstrate the implications of digital exclusion for personal and business lives in rural, and in particular remote rural, areas. The ability of the current UK policy context to effectively address the urban-rural digital divide is reviewed and scenarios for improving digital connectivity amongst the ‘final few’, including community-led broadband, satellite broadband and mobile broadband, are considered. A call is made for digital future proofing in telecommunications policy, without which the already faster urban areas will get ‘faster, fastest’ leaving rural areas behind and an increasingly entrenched urban-rural divide.

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Research works printed but not linked: 24

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Metadata

Authors
Philip, L., Cottrill, C., Farrington, J., Williams, F., & Ashmore, F.
Affiliations
  • University of Aberdeen (GB)
  • University of Chester (GB)
Corresponding author
Philip, Lorna
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Rural Studies
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-08
Volume
54
Pages
386-398
ISSN
0743-0167 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.12.002
OpenAlex
W2576425990
Cited by
347
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 55 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 31 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 5
FWCI
18.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Rural Studies (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Aberdeen University Research Archive (Aberdeen University) (submittedVersion)
  • ChesterRep (University of Chester) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Lincoln Repository (University of Lincoln) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Research Councils UK (EP/G066051/1)
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/G066051/1)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › ICT Impact and Policies
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › ICT in Developing Communities
  • Social Sciences › Geography, Planning and Development › Rural development and sustainability
Keywords
digital divide, urban-rural divide, digital exclusion, telecommunications policy, satellite internet, mobile broadband, Ofcom, remote rural areas, Great Britain

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: The digital divide: Patterns, policy and scenarios for connecting the ‘final few’ in rural communities across Great Britain. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.12.002
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Philip, L., Cottrill, C., Farrington, J., Williams, F., & Ashmore, F. (2017). The digital divide: Patterns, policy and scenarios for connecting the ‘final few’ in rural communities across Great Britain. Journal of Rural Studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.12.002