Calix says demographics put ISPs off rural fibre broadband rollouts

Internet service providers (ISPs) are often unwilling to roll out fibre optic broadband in rural areas due to the demographic of local residents, according to Calix.

Geoff Burke, senior director of corporate marketing at the broadband access specialist, told Global Telecoms Business that younger adults are more likely to purchase broadband products than older consumers.

In rural communities, the proportion of older residents tends to be higher than in urban settings, while lower socio-economic conditions are often seen in the countryside, he claimed.

"This conventional wisdom has discouraged widespread broadband deployment in rural areas because anticipated take-up rates could be lower," Mr Burke explained.

His comments appear to be backed up by government figures, which reveal that 39 per cent of the 8.7 million adults in the UK who have never used the internet are aged over 65.

Some 38 per cent are unemployed, while 19 per cent are families with children.

Almost half of those who have not gone online are in the most disadvantaged socio-economic groups.