In the rural heart of Oxfordshire, a digital revolution is transforming life on the land. The arrival of full fibre broadband is bringing lightning-fast internet to farms and rural communities, changing the way farmers work and manage their businesses.
For Oxfordshire farmer Ed Horton, the impact has been nothing short of transformational. “I had to complete paperwork early in the morning or late at night to avoid portals crashing,” he explained, recalling the days when a slow and unreliable internet connection hampered his daily operations. Now, with a full fibre connection, those frustrations are gone. He can complete essential tasks efficiently and without interruption.
The enhanced connectivity is streamlining administrative work and enabling access to online government systems, supply chain platforms, and precision farming software. For farmers who depend on digital tools to monitor weather conditions, manage crop health, track livestock and comply with regulations, reliable broadband is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity.
The infrastructure upgrade is part of a government-backed investment to connect rural homes and businesses that have long suffered from poor connectivity. It is being delivered by rural broadband specialist Gigaclear, which has started construction on a full fibre network that will connect 9,500 properties across Oxfordshire. The project forms part of the wider Project Gigabit initiative, designed to deliver ultrafast internet to hard-to-reach areas across the UK.
Farms equipped with full fibre can now take advantage of smart devices and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies that automate irrigation, monitor soil conditions and send real-time alerts on equipment performance. The result is greater operational efficiency, improved sustainability and reduced costs.
Beyond the technical benefits, full fibre is also enhancing rural life. Families can work remotely, children can access online learning, and rural businesses can compete on a more level playing field. As Oxfordshire’s fields become increasingly connected, the county’s farming community is entering a new era — one where tradition meets technology to ensure a more resilient future.
