- Two thirds of Brits say slow and unreliable broadband is their pet peeve
- 3.7 million British homes still do not have optical fiber (60% of them in cities)
- Vodafone 5G/full fiber can now reach 26 million homes
Vodafone says it has researched what bothers UK consumers most, with 67% of citizens saying slow and unreliable broadband is now their biggest pet peeve.
The problem is so big, Vodafone has found, that more than 20 million people say they would consider moving for a better broadband connection, while many areas have yet to benefit from a full fiber optic rollout.
With hybrid working now commonplace and other factors such as connected devices all leading to increased traffic, 87% of Brits now view fast broadband as essential to everyday life.
Vodafone believes 5G broadband could fill current fiber gaps
In response to growing concerns about slow and unreliable broadband, the company, which recently merged with Three, launched its own mobile broadband plan to provide customers with cellular connections throughout their home as an alternative to cable connections.
According to the company, more than 26 million UK homes can now access full fiber or 5G broadband on its network, which it says is more than any other UK provider.
Cellular connections play an important role in the rollout of fiber optics: these 5G networks already exist for smartphone connectivity, but around 3.7 million UK homes are still limited to old copper or part-fiber cables. Interestingly, this is not necessarily a rural problem, as three of the remaining five homes are actually located in cities.
Mobile networks are already playing a role, with half (49%) of Brits using a smartphone hotspot when broadband is a problem. Having this type of connection through a router or mesh Wi-Fi network would allow all devices to connect, not just those within range of a smartphone (when the smartphone is at home).
“This launch means we’re giving customers real choice: fiber broadband where it’s available, and powerful 5G broadband where it’s not – as well as better options for everyone who simply wants speed, ease and flexibility,” VodafoneThree said.
The Vodafone website now offers 5G broadband deals supporting up to 150 Mbps, priced from £19 to £29 per month for 30 day and 24 month contracts.
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