The UK’s worsening copper telecommunications infrastructure is withholding our ability to keep up with modern working trends and putting us at risk of falling further behind our global rivals, according to new research.
Over 78% (three quarters) of UK consumers feel held back and frustrated by their internet connection, with the figure rising with homeworkers and young people (87%). With the school holidays upon us people are beginning to rethink their work arrangements, especially people working regularly from home. These homeworkers (99%) agree that a better connection would allow them to do so more often.
According this new research, 36% of people (a third) have agreed that being able to work from home without any internet connection disruption would have a better work-life balance. This leading to a reduction of stress according to 34% of respondents, while over 21% (a fifth) said they would see an overall improvement on their work performance.
Whilst these benefits of flexible working are clear, the lack of uninterrupted connection is preventing the UK from embracing it. This has left the UK in a difficult position as it fights to keep up with demands of the modern workplace and workforce of the future.
Greg Mesch, chief executive, CityFibre, said: “For too long the UK has been held back by a deliberate lack of investment by BT Openreach in fibre infrastructure. Although companies like CityFibre are building the networks that will give millions of homes and businesses access to full fibre broadband, providers continuing to advertise copper-based connections as “fibre” is leaving people completely confused about what is on offer.”
This research highlights the effect of outdated copper infrastructure as the country falls to 35th in the global internet speed rankings. It is clear an improvement is needed, not only to keep up with the worker’s expectation of connectivity needed to get the job done, but to also benefit competition of workplaces in the UK.
