UK's creaking digital infrastructure hits homeworkers hardest

The UK’s copper telecommunications infrastructure is holding back our ability to keep pace with modern working trends and putting us at risk of falling further behind our global rivals. CityFibre recently commissioned new research that highlights the impact this redundant ‘technology’ is having on broadband customers across the UK. We found that over three quarters (78%) of UK consumers feel slowed down and frustrated by their internet connection, with the figure rising among homeworkers (82%) and young people (87%). Almost all homeworkers (99%) agree that a better connection would enable them to work from home more often. Added to that, over a third said if they could work from home more often they would have a better work-life balance – and that it would reduce stress. This goes to show the wider benefits better connectivity would have on the workforce; on productivity, health and happiness. We must upgrade our digital infrastructure if we want to meet the demands of the workplace – and workforce – of the future. Currently, the Advertising Standards Authority’s prehistoric guidelines that allow broadband providers to advertise copper as “fibre” are getting in the way. The ability to describe part copper connections as “fibre” is leaving consumers confused about what they’re paying for, and is risking our ability to meet the ambitious target set out by the UK Government for all homes and business premises to be connected to full fibre by 2033. Traditional workplace hours of 9 am to 5 pm are now increasingly only the norm for a minority of workers. As flexible working becomes standard, we need to enable people to work remotely by providing much better access to reliable connectivity. Help us change the rules by signing our petition against misleading broadband claims.