UK workers demand economic recovery to be built on better internet access

Cisco released Cisco Broadband Index: Workforce Insights on Access to Internet Services which accentuates the concerns over the accessibility of internet services in the UK which almost 70% of workers believe will reinforce economic growth. The report found that 40% of people have connectivity issues that adversely impacted their access to critical services such as medical care or education during COVID-19 lockdowns. Therefore, approximately half the respondents think that investing in connectivity is more important than water or electricity. In this vein, almost three in four UK workers voiced their aspiration for the development of fast and reliable connectivity in the country. ‘Almost overnight the expectations of professionals and consumers around the world fundamentally changed. For many of us, the way we connect with colleagues, companies, and services is incomparable to just over a year ago, and 75% of workers in the UK do not plan to go back to how they used the Internet prior to the pandemic. Whilst appetite to connect is clear, the opportunity to benefit from the digital economy still remains a challenge for many,’ said Cisco UK & Ireland Chief Executive David Meads.