Bridging the digital divide is more than a matter of convenience; it is essential to ensuring equitable access to critical services and opportunities
The digital divide in rural America is a persistent problem, with millions of people lacking access to reliable high-speed internet. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), nearly 17% of rural Americans do not have access to a minimum level of broadband speeds (25 Mbps download with 3 Mbps upload). The FCC has proposed increasing the broadband download standard to 100 Mbps. Under this definition, 33% of rural Americans would not have adequate coverage.
For these communities, the lack of broadband impacts economic opportunity, education, health care and overall quality of life. Bridging this gap is more than a matter of convenience; it is essential to ensuring equal access to critical services and opportunities.
Recent legislation
In recent years, the U.S. government has recognized the importance of closing the digital divide and has passed several laws aimed at expanding broadband access. The bipartisan infrastructure bill, passed in 2021, allocates $65 billion to improving broadband infrastructure, with a significant portion going to rural areas. In addition, the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) aims to bring broadband to millions of homes and businesses in rural areas through targeted subsidies to providers.
One solution that could significantly accelerate the expansion of rural broadband is the adoption of Network Function Virtualization (NFV). This software-based approach enables service providers to create a flexible, scalable and cost-effective telecom infrastructure in software, making it more efficient to bring broadband to underserved rural areas.
NFV reduces network capital and operating costs, accelerates deployment, and improves reliability. NFV can ensure that every dollar spent on rural broadband goes further, bringing high-speed internet to even the most remote corners of the country.
Here’s how NFV can help close the rural broadband gap:
Reduce costs and improve access
One of the main obstacles to expanding broadband in rural areas is high infrastructure costs. Traditional networks rely on fixed-function hardware such as routers, switches and servers, which require significant upfront investments. Given the sparse population in rural areas, providers may not find it economically feasible to justify these costs. This is where NFV’s cost-efficient infrastructure comes into play.
NFV allows telecom providers to replace expensive hardware with software that performs the same functions on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) servers. This reduces the overall cost of deploying and maintaining networks, allowing providers to pass these savings on to consumers in the form of lower prices or greater coverage.
Scalability and flexibility are additional benefits of NFV that make it particularly suitable for rural areas. Unlike urban environments, where broadband demand is consistently high and geographically concentrated, demand in rural areas can fluctuate significantly. NFV allows service providers to easily scale network capacity based on demand, reducing the risk of overinvestment in regions with unpredictable usage patterns. The ability to tailor services to meet real-time needs also allows providers to expand broadband access incrementally, rather than requiring a huge upfront investment.
Faster implementation and expansion of coverage
Another critical benefit of NFV is the speed at which networks can be deployed. Planning, building and bringing traditional telecom infrastructure online can take years, especially in remote areas. This delay could be a major obstacle to achieving universal broadband coverage.
NFV, on the other hand, enables much faster deployment of network services. By virtualizing many of the key functions that previously required physical equipment, NFV facilitates remote and automated ‘zero touch’ deployments, which can significantly reduce the time spent building the network.
An example of this is the use of edge computing, where network functions are virtualized at the edge of the network, closer to the end users. For rural areas, this means lower latency services can be delivered even if they are geographically distant from large data centers. This is especially important for time-sensitive applications such as video streaming, online education and remote working, where any delay in data transfer can significantly impact the user experience.
Support alternative connectivity models
NFV also supports innovative approaches to connectivity that can be especially effective in rural areas. One such model is community networks: locally owned and operated networks that provide internet access to underserved communities.
NFV lowers the technical and financial barriers to entry for such networks, allowing smaller Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or cooperatives to deploy and manage their own infrastructure. This model could be a game-changer for rural areas traditionally overlooked by major telecom companies.
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and 5G are other possible solutions that NFV can help facilitate. FWA, which uses wireless signals to deliver broadband to homes, can be more cost-effective than installing fiber in rural areas with difficult terrain.
NFV enables service providers to virtualize and manage the network functions that support FWA and 5G, making these technologies more feasible and scalable in rural areas.
Improving reliability and resilience
Rural networks face unique challenges when it comes to reliability and resilience. Natural disasters, extreme weather conditions and the difficulty of reaching remote locations for repairs can all contribute to service outages. NFV improves network resilience by enabling redundancy and failover mechanisms that are prohibitively expensive in traditional hardware-based networks. Virtualized network functions can be easily backed up and restored, so nationwide networks experience minimal downtime.
NFV also enables remote management, which is especially useful in rural areas. Sending technicians to remote locations for on-site repairs can be costly and time-consuming. NFV allows network operators to troubleshoot many issues remotely, reducing the need for physical intervention and ensuring service disruptions are resolved quickly.
Conclusion
The digital divide in rural America is a complex challenge, but software-based solutions like NFV offer a practical path forward. By reducing infrastructure costs, accelerating deployment, supporting innovative connectivity models and increasing network resilience, NFV can play a critical role in overcoming barriers to rural broadband expansion. As investments in rural connectivity continue through government initiatives and private sector innovation, NFV must be a key part of the solution to ensure that all Americans, regardless of where they live, have access to the digital opportunities they deserve.
