New research reveals that four in five Britons experience problems with their internet connection at least once a month, while one in fourteen struggle weekly and more than a million face daily disruptions.
According to the Office for National Statistics, nearly ten million people, more than a quarter of the UK workforce, now split their time between home and the office, while a further five million work entirely from home. Yet many of these workers say their productivity is routinely undermined by poor internet performance.
The study found that slow browsing speeds were the most common complaint, followed by devices disconnecting and video freezes during calls.
Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative Party leader, urged telecom providers to act.
“The infrastructure is there but we have to find ways to make broadband more reliable in the home,” he said. “There are simply too many hours being lost and the prize for solving this problem is much needed economic growth.”
Greg Stafford MP, also a Conservative, 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. We need to redouble efforts to ensure no household or business is left behind.”
Experts say that while telecom companies have invested billions in fibre optic networks, the final challenge lies within homes themselves, where weak WiFi coverage often undermines high speed connections.
Metin Taskin, chief executive of Airties, the technology firm that commissioned the study, said the problem stems from a lack of visibility inside home networks.
“There is little understanding about what is happening inside the home when it comes to WiFi,” he said. “This is a challenge for the industry and a daily source of frustration for consumers. With the right software solutions, the UK can finally give customers the experience they deserve.”
Although 71 per cent of Britons have contacted their internet provider about connectivity issues, only 24 per cent have switched supplier, the research shows.
A separate survey of more than 4000 households by consumer group Which found that Zen Internet, Plusnet, and Utility Warehouse had the most satisfied customers, each scoring four out of five for reliability. Virgin Media, by contrast, was rated lowest for both broadband speed and customer service.
A spokesperson for Which said:
“If you are with one of the big four, Virgin Media, TalkTalk, Sky or BT, it is worth exploring whether another provider deserves your custom more. Our research shows the grass really can be greener.”
