By 2018, 96.5% of the entire population could access 2g internet, but sadly, it isn’t reliable. Having 2g internet in this age is like having candles to light up houses. The issue of a reliable internet connection continues to spread across major rural areas of the US. (1) (2)
About 19 million persons from the US rural areas currently don’t have exposure to a reliable 4g internet. This is depressing considering most of our office work and long-distance relationships demand a reliable and sustainable 4g internet. In this guide, we’ll see how to improve your mobile connectivity in rural areas.
Challenges of 4G Rural Internet
As aforementioned, the current situation of a reliable internet connection in rural areas is pretty disturbing. Here are the factors that provide the pillars of this challenge.
Limited Infrastructure
The major cause leading to limited 4g internet is the limited infrastructure. Rural areas often suffer from a scarcity of cell towers, leading to weak signals and unreliable connectivity. Most internet carriers don’t see any benefit in creating towers in rural areas due to the low population density. Since a low population means fewer subscribers, the investment outweighs the returns. Furthermore, fiber optic technology accounts for a fast and reliable internet connection. But most rural areas lack this technology.
Terrain and Geographic Barriers
Most countrysides feature uneven terrains, such as hills, valleys, and dense vegetation. This often obstructs the wireless connection, leading to an unreliable 4g rural internet. Expanding physical wires over the terrain is yet another challenge due to the mountains. These uneven terrains pose logistical challenges for laying cables and setting up the network infrastructure, impeding the expansion of reliable connectivity. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, and altitude platforms (AP) provide a novel solution to these challenges. (2)
Affordability and Accessibility
The few internet carriers that spread their internet to the rural areas often provide high-cost or unreliable 4g internet. This is not plausible for many rural inhabitants, considering they don’t have big pockets. Subscribing to these internet carriers might upset their budget greatly. As a result, rural people can’t use unlimited 4g internet and they often feel cut off from the entire world.
Solutions for Improving 4G Mobile Rural Internet
Fortunately, there are some tips rural inhabitants can follow to improve their 4g mobile rural internet.
Opting for the right Internet service provider
One of the best solutions for a better 4g rural internet is opting for the right internet service provider. There are some providers with unreliable or high-cost coverage. While some may be optimum for rural inhabitants. Going through customer reviews and choosing the best service providers offers a cost-effective solution for internet connection in rural areas. Additionally, considering options that provide a free trial internet period can be beneficial for users to experience the service before making a commitment.
Using Devices With Built-in Cellular Capability
Another reliable and cost-effective solution is to use devices, like tablets which feature a built-in cellular capacity. These devices can connect directly to internet service providers, without relying on signal boosters or other hardware. This makes these devices much more reliable for internet connection in rural areas.
Using Satellite Internet
In areas where traditional wired connections have limitations, using satellite internet offers a reliable 4g rural internet. Low-orbit satellites send signals to the Earth’s surface. People can use disks to catch these signals and use 4g internet. A drawback to this solution is that satellite internet offers higher latency. However, with advancements in science and technology, the issue is resolved.
Applying for Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
Rural inhabitants can make good use of government funds through the ACP to get a discounted price for internet services. The ACP aids people with a low income to use a reliable 4g rural internet. Fortunately, some of these programs are also permanent, offering a paramount discount on internet service at the same time for deserving households.
FAQs
Why is 2G internet considered unreliable in rural areas?
Despite 96.5% of the population having access to 2G internet by 2018, it is considered unreliable in rural areas due to issues like weak signals and limited capabilities. The analogy used is that relying on 2G in this age is akin to using candles to light up houses.
How many people in US rural areas lack access to reliable 4G internet?
Approximately 19 million individuals in US rural areas currently do not have exposure to reliable 4G internet, creating challenges for tasks such as office work and maintaining long-distance relationships.
What are the factors leading to unreliable and limited 4g rural internet?
Rural areas have limited infrastructure. The number of cell towers isn’t enough to spread out a reliable connection. Moreover, the countryside terrains may obstruct the signals as well. The few internet carriers operating in these areas have high subscription prices, which is not plausible for any rural households to afford.
How do countryside terrains affect 4G rural internet connectivity?
Uneven terrains, such as hills, valleys, and dense vegetation, obstruct wireless connection. It also becomes costly and difficult to spread out wires.
How can rural areas get unlimited 4g rural internet?
Rural people should do enough research and choose the right internet service provider with reliable and cost-effective coverage. They can also use devices with built-in cellular capability for direct connection. The ACP program also helps deserving households with funding for 4g rural internet.
What devices are recommended for a better 4G rural internet connection?
There are various devices available in the market which feature built-in cellular capability. Examples may include some tablets. These are recommended for a reliable and cost-effective 4G internet connection in rural areas. They can connect directly to internet service providers without relying on additional hardware.
What is the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and how can rural inhabitants benefit from it?
ACP helps rural inhabitants get discounted prices for 4g rural internet. It is a government-funded program, that helps eligible and deserving households with low income.
The Bottomline:
In conclusion, rural inhabitants face the challenges of limited connectivity. This restrains prosperity and the people are also unable to make full use of internet capabilities. However, there are some ways rural inhabitants can improve their connection.
These ways are cost-effective and will certainly help in providing unlimited 4g rural connectivity.
References
1: Secretary-General. Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals; Technical Report; United Nations: New York, NY, USA, 2020. Available form:
2: Cabrera-Castellanos, D. F., Aragón-Zavala, A., & Castañón-Ávila, G. (2021). Closing connectivity gap: An overview of mobile coverage solutions for not-spots in rural zones. Sensors, 21(23), 8037. Available form: