Access to reliable, high-quality broadband at an affordable price is no longer a luxury–it is a core utility in an interconnected world.
Yet the gap between rural and urban connectivity remains wide. The OECD’s latest analysis, covering more than 60 countries, shows that many communities outside metropolitan areas still experience slower internet speeds, limited availability and higher costs.
Although fibre and 5G rollouts have accelerated, these advances are not evenly distributed. In OECD member nations, people living in cities enjoyed median fixed broadband download speeds 43.8% higher than those in regions far from metropolitan centres at the end of 2024. For mobile broadband, the gap stood at 37.2%, with average download speeds of 74.5 Mbps in cities versus 54.3 Mbps in rural areas.
This connectivity divide affects more than just personal convenience. For rural businesses, poor internet quality can hinder participation in e-commerce, remote work and digital service delivery. Communities risk being excluded from education, telehealth and economic opportunities that depend on stable connections. Policymakers recognise that bridging these divides is essential to inclusive digital transformation.
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The report underlines that measuring broadband performance at a granular, subnational level is a crucial first step. By using harmonised spatial definitions, researchers can assess availability, speed and affordability across the urban-rural continuum. These insights allow governments to craft evidence-based policies that target the areas most in need.
Social media platforms, e-government portals and cloud-based tools all depend on strong underlying communications infrastructure. Without it, rural residents face a second-tier internet experience. To counter this, many governments have included broadband expansion in their economic recovery plans. Public-private partnerships, spectrum coverage obligations, community-led projects and direct public funding are among the strategies in use.
However, investment decisions are only part of the equation. The OECD recommends a sound institutional framework that promotes competition, supports infrastructure sharing and manages spectrum efficiently. This reduces barriers to deployment and ensures public resources are directed where private investment is unlikely to reach.
Challenges are even greater in partner economies outside the OECD, where electricity supply and transport infrastructure can limit network expansion. Income levels and digital skills gaps can also reduce demand, slowing progress.
Closing the rural connectivity gap will take sustained commitment, accurate mapping of existing networks and coordinated action between governments, industry and communities. High-speed internet is now a foundation for participation in modern life – and leaving rural areas behind is no longer an option.
