Britain’s army of home workers are regularly being let down by faulty internet connections and leading MPs have said the problem is so serious it is holding back economic growth.
MPs have called for home broadband to be improved after research revealed that four in five Britons say that they experience problems with their connection at least once a month. Some people experience issues on a weekly or even daily basis.
Nearly ten million Britons — over 25 per cent of the working population — describe themselves as hybrid workers, meaning that they split their time between home and the workplace, according to the Office for National Statistics.
A further five million people are thought to work exclusively at home.
The study found that huge numbers of these workers suffer regular issues with their internet, leaving their employers, colleagues and customers frustrated.
The study revealed that 79 per cent of Britons suffer wifi problems at least once a month while seven per cent have issues weekly. The equivalent of 1.2 million people experience issues on a daily basis.
• Five years of the WFH experiment: is it working?
Slow browsing speeds are the most commonly reported problem, followed by devices disconnecting. More than half also report video freezes.
Iain Duncan-Smith, the former leader of the Conservative Party, urged telecoms providers to address the problem.
Iain Duncan Smith said telecoms providers needed to find ways to improve connectivity in the home
ALAMY
He said: “The infrastructure is there but we have to find ways to make broadband more reliable in the home. There are simply too many hours being lost and the prize for solving this problem is much needed improved economic growth.”
Greg Stafford, a Conservative MP, said: “Fast, reliable broadband is no longer a luxury — it is a basic utility. Whether it is children learning at home, small businesses trading online, or families staying connected, digital connectivity underpins modern life and is essential for the British economy. That’s why we need to redouble efforts to ensure no household or business is left behind.”
Experts say that telecom providers have spent billions investing in fibre optic infrastructure but now the final hurdle is improving service inside customer’s homes.
• Slow wifi? These gadgets will boost your connection
Metin Taskin, the chief executive at Airties, the technology company that commissioned the study, said: “There is little understanding about what’s happening inside the home when it comes to wifi. This is a challenge for the industry and a source of daily frustration for consumers.”
He added: “With the right software solutions in place, the UK can finally give customers the experience they deserve.”
The survey found that 71 per cent of Britons have contacted their provider about connectivity problems but only 24 per cent have switched supplier.
A recent survey of more than 4,000 households by the consumer group Which? found that Zen Internet, Plusnet and Utility Warehouse had the most satisfied customers, as all three scored four out of five for reliability.
Virgin Media’s poor ratings for broadband speed and customer service earned it last place in the Which? rankings.
A spokesman for Which? said: “If you’re with one of the big four of Virgin Media, Talk Talk, Sky or BT, it’s worth exploring whether there isn’t another available provider that deserves your custom more. Our research shows that the grass really can be greener.”