%0 Thesis
%9 Master
%A Tjoelker, Sander
%D 2021
%F theses_frw:3507
%P 43
%T TO HOOK ON OR TO UNHOOK: A RESEARCH ON THE ADDED-VALUE OF BROADBAND ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN RURAL AREAS
%U https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/3507/
%X Previous research has indicated that regions faced with limited physical accessibility, digital connections are useful regarding economic activities and regional development, but also that digital connectivity is more about usage patterns. Therefore, this research analyzes several usage patterns in the work and residential climate and puts the aforementioned issue in a regional perspective. The aim is to explore to what extent broadband has an added-value on socio-economic activities in rural areas. Qualitative data is collected among 11 participants from two broadband initiatives in the north of the Netherlands through semi-structured interviews, addressing several statements and motivations. Subsequently, the interviews have been transcribed, analyzed and coded using Atlas.ti. The results illustrate that broadband enables socio-economic activities for both companies and residents and that absence of such connection in particular would be problematic. Thus, it is more a requirement rather than a clear added-value for socio-economic activities in rural areas. Another relevant notion is that boundaries between the work and residential climate may get blurred due to broadband.