Bridging the digital divide is more than a matter of convenience — it’s essential for ensuring equitable access to critical services and opportunities
The digital divide in rural America is a persistent issue, with millions of people lacking access to reliable high-speed internet. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), nearly 17% of rural Americans don’t have access to a minimal level of broadband speeds (25 Mbps download with 3 Mbps upload). The FCC has proposed increasing the broadband download standard to 100 Mbps. At this definition, 33% of rural Americans would not have adequate coverage.
For these communities, the lack of broadband affects economic opportunities, education, healthcare, and overall quality of life. Bridging this divide is more than a matter of convenience — it’s essential for ensuring equitable 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 pieces of legislation aimed at expanding broadband access. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed in 2021, allocates $65 billion to improve broadband infrastructure, with a significant portion dedicated to rural areas. Additionally, the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) aims to bring broadband to millions of rural homes and businesses 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 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 help 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:
Lowering costs and improving access
One of the primary barriers to expanding broadband in rural areas is the high cost of infrastructure. Traditional networks rely on fixed-function hardware, such as routers, switches, and servers, that require significant upfront investment. 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 running 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 wider coverage.
Scalability and flexibility are additional benefits of NFV that make it particularly well-suited for rural areas. Unlike urban environments, where demand for broadband is consistently high and geographically concentrated, demand in rural areas can fluctuate significantly. NFV enables 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 needing a massive investment upfront.
Faster deployment and coverage expansion
Another critical advantage of NFV is the speed with which networks can be deployed. Traditional telecom infrastructure can take years to plan, build, and bring online, particularly in remote areas. This delay can be a major roadblock to achieving universal broadband coverage.
NFV, by contrast, allows for much faster deployment of network services. By virtualizing many of the key functions that used to require physical equipment, NFV facilitates remote and automated “zero touch” deployments can cut time spent building the network significantly.
One example of this is the use of edge computing, where network functions are virtualized at the edge of the network, closer to end-users. For rural areas, this means that services can be delivered with lower latency, even if they are geographically distant from major data centers. This is particularly important for time-sensitive applications such as video streaming, online education, and remote work, where any delay in data transmission can significantly impact the user experience.
Supporting alternative connectivity models
NFV also supports innovative approaches to connectivity that can be particularly 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, enabling smaller Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or cooperatives to deploy and manage their own infrastructure. This model can be a game-changer for rural areas that have traditionally been overlooked by large telecom companies.
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and 5G are other potential solutions that NFV can help facilitate. FWA, which uses wireless signals to deliver broadband to homes, can be more cost-effective than laying 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 regions.
Enhancing reliability and resilience
Rural networks face unique challenges when it comes to reliability and resilience. Natural disasters, extreme weather, and the difficulty of accessing remote locations for repairs can all contribute to service outages. NFV enhances network resilience by enabling redundancy and failover mechanisms that are cost-prohibitive with traditional hardware-based networks. Virtualized network functions can be easily backed up and restored, ensuring that rural networks experience minimal downtime.
NFV also enables remote management, which is particularly useful in rural areas. Sending technicians to remote locations for on-site repairs can be costly and time-consuming. With NFV, network operators can resolve many issues remotely, reducing the need for physical intervention and ensuring that service disruptions are addressed quickly.
Conclusion
The digital divide in rural America is a complex challenge, but software-based solutions like NFV offer a practical path forward. By lowering the cost of infrastructure, speeding up deployment, supporting innovative connectivity models, and enhancing network resilience, NFV can play a critical role in overcoming the barriers to rural broadband expansion. As investments are made in rural connectivity through government initiatives and private sector innovation, NFV should 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.
