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B4RN connects to the Internet backbones in Manchester, some 70 miles away. While it is possible in rural locations to do the same, rural locations do not have many access points, very few providers to select from and no Internet Exchanges.

Backbone providers don't have to give you access, but they will sell to you, provided there is a way to connect you.

Backbone providers sell you IP transit, which is a very competitive market in well connected locations. The problem is to get to those well connected locations. You often pay far more (like 10x) for the transport to that location than for the actual IP transit.