Rural blackspots

sir – On Boxing Day I spent a pleasant afternoon with my wife’s family in the village of Lover, once treasured by philatelists for the franking impressions on Valentine’s cards.

After taking several photos I thought I would share these with absent friends. I then noticed there was no coverage from my provider, EE, and my host informed me that only Vodaphone worked in the village.

Why is it that when I travel through Europe I am able to connect by roaming to the strongest service provider, but in my own country I am constantly left with no coverage at all? David Corben

Swanage, Dorset

sir – The Archers has been criticised for failing to address the everyday rural problem of slow broadband (report, December 26).

I know from personal experience that there is plenty of scope for “haves and have-nots” storylines. Grange Farm would obviously be on an “Exchange Only” line – so no superfast speeds for the Grundys. Half of the village would be served by a cabinet too far away to deliver any benefit from Fibre-to-the-cabinet technology; and it would turn out that Brian Aldridge has his own Fibre-to-the-premises line installed at Home Farm.

I can hear Susan Carter now. Dermot Flaherty

Southampton