New solutions to old problems in the rural network

New developments in telecommunications mean that it is possible to offer services in the most remote rural areas which are equal to those of major cities. It may therefore be possible to stop their depopulation and economic stagnation by the introduction of new technology into the telecommunications infrastructure. The authors look at some of this new technology and how it may be applied. For this purpose UK rural network is considered; however the concepts outlined could be applied to other networks with a comparable level of digitalisation, customer distribution and service penetration