Persistent rural-urban disparities in broadband connectivity remain a major policy challenge, even in digitally advanced countries. This paper examines how these inequalities manifest in northern Finland and Sweden, where sparse populations, long distances, and seasonal variations in demand create persistent gaps in service quality and reliability. Drawing on survey data (n = 148), in-depth interviews, and spatial analysis, the study explores the lived experience of connectivity in Arctic rural communities and introduces a novel Cellular Coverage Inequality (CCI) Index. The index combines measures of rurality and network performance to quantify spatial disparities that are masked by national coverage statistics. Results reveal that headline indicators overstate inclusiveness, while local users report chronic connectivity gaps affecting work, safety, and access to services. Building on these findings, the paper outlines policy reflections in six areas: shared infrastructure and roaming frameworks, spectrum flexibility for rural operators, performance-based Quality-of-Service monitoring, standardized and transparent reporting, temporal and seasonal capacity management, and digital-skills initiatives. Together, these recommendations highlight the need for multidimensional metrics and governance mechanisms that link technical performance, spatial equity, and user experience. The analysis contributes to ongoing debates on how broadband policy in sparsely populated regions can move beyond nominal coverage targets toward genuine inclusion and reliability.

翻译：即使在数字化发达国家，城乡宽带连通性差距仍是重大政策挑战。本文研究了这些不平等在芬兰和瑞典北部地区的表现，该地区人口稀疏、距离遥远、需求季节性变化导致服务质量与可靠性持续存在缺口。研究基于调查数据（n = 148）、深度访谈和空间分析，探讨了北极农村社区的实际连通体验，并提出了一种新颖的蜂窝覆盖不平等指数。该指数结合农村性指标与网络性能指标，量化了被国家覆盖统计数据掩盖的空间差异。结果显示，宏观指标高估了包容性，而当地用户报告了影响工作、安全和服务获取的长期连通缺口。基于这些发现，本文从六个方面提出政策反思：共享基础设施与漫游框架、农村运营商的频谱灵活性、基于性能的服务质量监测、标准化透明化报告机制、时序与季节性容量管理、以及数字技能提升计划。这些建议共同强调，需要建立多维度的度量体系与治理机制，以关联技术性能、空间公平性与用户体验。本分析为稀疏人口区域宽带政策如何超越名义覆盖目标、实现真正包容与可靠性的持续讨论提供了参考。