Millions of people across the United Kingdom are struggling with poor Wi-Fi connections while working from home, according to new research highlighting the ongoing challenges of hybrid and remote work.
A study commissioned by technology company Airties revealed that four in five Britons experience broadband issues at least once a month, with many facing slow speeds or complete outages weekly or even daily.
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that nearly ten million people — more than a quarter of the UK workforce — now work in hybrid roles, splitting time between home and the office, while another five million are fully remote. However, unreliable internet connections continue to frustrate both employees and employers.
The survey found that 79% of respondents suffer Wi-Fi problems at least once a month, 7% report weekly disruptions, and an estimated 1.2 million experience issues every day. The most common complaints were sluggish browsing speeds, dropped connections, and frozen video calls during meetings.
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith called for stronger action from broadband companies, telling *The Times*: “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.”
Industry experts say that while billions have been invested in fibre optic networks, the biggest challenge now lies inside homes, where Wi-Fi performance often falters. Airties chief executive Metin Taskin said: “There is little understanding about what’s happening inside the home when it comes to Wi-Fi. This is a challenge for the industry and a source of daily frustration for consumers.” He added that improved software solutions could help deliver “the experience customers deserve.”
The report also showed that 71% of people had contacted their provider about connectivity issues, yet only 24% had switched suppliers.
Separate research by consumer group *Which?* found that Zen Internet, Plusnet, and Utility Warehouse were the most reliable broadband providers, each receiving four out of five stars for customer satisfaction.
A spokesperson for Which? said: “If you’re with one of the big four — Virgin Media, TalkTalk, Sky or BT — it’s worth exploring whether another provider deserves your custom more. Our research shows that the grass really can be greener.”
