Drivers, barriers and impacts of digitalisation in rural areas from the viewpoint of experts

•We interview 30 cross-disciplinary experts in the field of digitalisation of rural areas.•We classify 14 barriers, 15 drivers, and 10 types of impact related to the adoption of digital technologies.•Main drivers are towards adoption are economic and regulatory, with institutions playing a crucial role.•Main barriers are socio-cultural, and the limited connectivity.•Positive impacts are socio-economic, while negative ones are the marginalisation of actors and loss of hands-on expertise.