Improved broadband services are essential to many parts of rural Wales, it has been claimed.

Gareth Vaughan, President of the Farmers' Union of Wales, told the Western Mail that improved broadband is "a crucial necessity" for those living and working in Wales' numerous isolated communities.

"These services are no longer merely desirable for rural dwellers – they are vital in enabling rural businesses to survive in these modern times," he commented.

"Farmers are increasingly required to access the internet to comply with new legislation affecting their livelihoods and traditional way of life."

His comments were echoed by Ed Bailey, President of farming union NFU Cymru, who stated that many rural communities risk being cut off from the rest of Digital Britain.

Last week, Russell Lawson, spokesperson for the Federation of Small Businesses in Wales, claimed that internet service providers should be obliged to invest in countryside broadband in exchange for gaining access to profitable areas such as the south-east of England.