Connecting Rural Communities: From Blueprint to Delivery

Rural Connectivity
Tuesday 16 September 2025 | 13:30 – 15:30
Part of the National Rural Conference 2025
Bookings now open for RSN members: View the full programme

Access to reliable digital services is no longer a luxury — it's essential. Whether it’s running a business, booking a GP appointment, or staying in touch with family, rural communities need equal access to fast, reliable, and inclusive digital infrastructure.

This year’s Rural Connectivity session at the National Rural Conference brings together a wide range of experts working at the forefront of mobile infrastructure, local authority delivery, government digital services, and the national landline switchover.

You’ll hear about major programmes shaping the UK’s digital future, with a focus on what they mean for rural areas — from mobile blackspots and fibre rollout to digital identity and user access. The session also invites discussion on how local and national players can collaborate to close the digital divide for good.

Whether you’re involved in local government, community planning, digital transformation or public engagement, this session offers insights, inspiration, and practical takeaways to support more connected rural communities.

Meet the Speakers:

	Cllr Nick Oliver, Cabinet Lead for Finance and Value for Money & Chris Thompson, Director of Digital and IT,  Northumberland Council Nick and Chris will outline how one of England’s most rural counties is translating digital strategy into tangible outcomes —   from community engagement to cross-sector collaboration and service improvement
	Chris Hockley, Head of Engagement, Digital Voice Programme, BT Chris shares how BT is working with councils, charities and care providers to support the transition to digital landlines. With millions affected, his focus is on ensuring the switchover is understood, inclusive and customer-friendly.
	Bryn Jones, Director, Shared Rural Network Bryn leads the programme bringing better 4G coverage to rural and remote areas. He’ll explain how operators and government are working together to improve signal strength and reliability across the UK.
	Lianne Williams, Strategy, Policy and Engagement Advisor, Government Digital Service (GDS) Lianne introduces One Login — the UK government’s flagship digital identity solution. She’ll share how GDS is promoting secure, inclusive access to public services and what this means for rural residents.
	Claire Evans, Director of Transformation, Tewkesbury Borough Council Claire brings a local authority perspective, drawing on her experience leading transformation across digital services, data, and customer engagement. She’ll share practical lessons on delivering user-centred, tech-enabled change in rural settings.

This session is one of eight themed events running from 15–18 September as part of our member-exclusive conference. It's free to attend to all eligible RSN members, check your inbox for your personalised invite. Sessions take place online via Zoom and you can join as many or as few sessions as you like.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from sector leaders, ask questions, and connect with others working to bridge the rural digital divide.

Book your place now and view the full programme