Broadband an essential for farmers says the IFA

WELCOMING the recent launch of a National Broadband Intervention Strategy, IFA General Secretary Pat Smith said it was very important to deliver the roll-out within the shortest timeframe possible.

‘The commitment to deliver this by 2020 will have to realised and the pricing structure for rural customers must be affordable and the same as applies in urban areas,’ he said.

And he added that the IFA will hold the Government to account on this.

Mr Smith also said that the network should be future-proofed for service provision and every rural home and business must have ease of access to high speed fibre broadband.

‘This is vital for the future of the 440,000 rural families in the country and the tens of thousands of small businesses that exist in rural areas,’ he said.

He added that farmers who want to operate their businesses in a competitive and progressive way must have infrastructure such as broadband.