AROUND 700 people living in a tiny rural hamlet on the Wiltshire border with Somerset are experiencing broadband speeds slower than that likely to be available on the moon next year, according to a new study.

New analysis shows the 681 residents of Corsley (2011 Census) are among the rural villages in the UK with the very poorest broadband performance.

Corsley comes third in the top ten – just below Narberth in Wales and Temple Sowerby in Cumbria.

The study by National Broadband shows that more than half of the UK will fail to match broadband speeds available on the moon by 2024.

David Hennell, director at alternative broadband specialists National Broadband, said: "The disparity between digital 'haves' and 'have nots' in the UK is sadly growing.

“While the moon is set to gain dizzying broadband speeds of 100Mbps, those in rural areas such as Corsley, Wiltshire, and Portree, Scotland, to name just two are left struggling with near-unusable broadband speeds of less than 10Mbps.

"And we know that's just the tip of the iceberg, as there are over 500,000 properties dotted across the UK experiencing the exact same issues.

“This makes it very clear that just not enough is being done to close the digital divide in this country.

“At National Broadband we believe that every connection matters and we're proud to offer alternative broadband solutions and fast and reliable internet connectivity to those who are being left behind."

The study reveals that rural villages and more than 500,000 UK properties will have speeds over 10 times worse than the moon by 2024.

Both Mount Everest and the Arctic Circle are already showing up the UK when it comes to broadband speeds, it says.

The latest figures highlight how advancements in technology are continuing to leave large parts of the UK behind.

They highlight clear failures within the Government’s levelling up agenda, the company said.

Using data from the Fair Internet Report, National Broadband analysed median download broadband speeds and typical download broadband speed ranges of 1,339 UK cities, towns and villages.

The five worst performing UK regions versus the moon are:

  1. Wales – 70 per cent
  2. Yorkshire – 60 per cent
  3. East of England – 59 per cent
  4. North East – 58 per cent
  5. Scotland – 56 per cent.

 

The rural villages topping the very poorest broadband performers are:

  1. Narberth, Wales
  2. Temple Sowerby, Cumbria
  3. Corsley, Wiltshire
  4. Bowmore, Scotland
  5. Roydon, Essex
  6. Pomeroy, Northern Ireland
  7. Portree, Scotland
  8. Kilvington, Nottinghamshire
  9. Achaphubuil, Scotland
  10. Llandyfriog, Wales