Ofcom Find 5 Percent of UK People Do NOT Have Home Internet Access
The telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has published new research into internet adoption and digital disadvantage, which among other things estimates that 2.8 million people (5% of the UK population) do not have internet access (broadband etc.) at home. But 69% of those unlikely to get access in the next 12 months said this was because they had “no need” or were “not interested” in it.
Naturally, age was found to be a predictor for not having internet access at home, but the analysis shows it is much stronger for those aged 85+ than those aged 75-84. Despite this, more than half of those without internet access at home are still younger than 75. The analysis also shows that renting from a social landlord is a predictor for not having home broadband access.
People living in households where the chief income earner is either not in work, retired and reliant on state pensions, or semi or unskilled workers account for the other half of those without internet access at home. In addition, some 82% of those with no access were found to be unlikely or certain not to get internet access in the next 12 months.
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In terms of the reasons why people have not yet gone online, some 69% of those unlikely to get access in the next 12 months said this was because they had “no need” or were “not interested” in it. But the cost of getting access (service or hardware) was also a factor for about 27% of people in Ofcom’s survey.
At this point it’s worth noting that 1% (0.4 million users) were found to have internet connectivity at home that they do not use, which is often because they do most of their online tasks externally (e.g. when at work).
As part of this work, researchers also interviewed 70 people from across the UK, including many who face unique forms of digital disadvantage based on their identity or circumstances. This included: disabled people; people in insecure housing; minority ethnic groups; individuals with limited English proficiency; and people with lower internet use.
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According to Ofcom, participants described the internet as a double-edged sword, acknowledging the benefits to communicating online, while also reporting a range of challenges. This included problems with connectivity, cost concerns, harmful online experiences, accessibility issues and lack of digital confidence. These challenges affected many aspects of their daily lives and were experienced across a range of sectors and services (e.g. banking, public services, employment etc.).
The report also reveals the psychological, logistical and societal impacts on people who experience digital disadvantage. This included adverse effects on their mental and physical health, feelings of social isolation, and exclusion from work opportunities and support services.
Experiences of Digital Disadvantage
➤ Disabled people talked about negative impacts on their physical health because of being online, including fatigue, physical discomfort using unsuitable devices, and anxiety. Some disabled people also highlighted accessibility issues with how some online services are designed.
➤ People experiencing housing challenges described a wide range of challenges using the internet which affected their daily lives. Overcrowding in homes with multiple occupants affected internet quality and speeds, and people living in short-term lets or staying temporarily in someone else’s home faced barriers when choosing and signing up with an internet provider. Having a lack of access to the internet also caused issues with working and studying from home.
➤ People from minority ethnic groups felt there was a lack of representation in online spaces they visited, and talked about seeing discriminatory and racist language online. This brings to life other evidence that nearly half (48%) of people in minority ethnic groups experienced hateful or abusive content online in the past four weeks.
➤ People with lower levels of English reported significant barriers to getting online, including the design of platforms for non-English speakers.
➤ Infrequent internet users had poor experiences of using essential services, especially around important day-to-day tasks including booking doctors’ appointments.
The research shows there remains a great deal of “diversity in people’s relationships with and attitudes towards the internet“, which will be challenging for the government’s new Digital Inclusion Action Plan to overcome.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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I wont be surprised for at least some if there’s more to it than ‘they dont need it’, like ignorance or just resistance to change.
I know someone who will say they don’t ‘need’ it but would absolutely benefit and save money with even a basic smartphone and whatsapp to contact foreign family members.
Even if they were offered it for free with a full tutorial, they will say no to their detriment.
It’s not saying they don’t have ANY internet access, just not a fixed broadbad connection. You can do most things with just a mobile and for many people that is the only device they will use. I can 100% see why students or socially active people living in a major city wouldn’t bother with a fixed internet connection when they’re already paying for a perfectly good mobile contract.
@Rob
Unless I’m mis-reading/interpreting the article, it talks about internet access at home, not just fixed line.
“which among other things estimates that 2.8 million people (5% of the UK population) do not have internet access (broadband etc.) at home.”
Regardless, my post does still apply within the context of no internet at all.
GOVERNMENT SOLUTION:
“So let’s have a bunch of cowboy code operators install tons of duplicate infrastructure in urban areas.”
This just causes OVERBUILD and doesn’t resolve the connectivity issues in rural and hard to reach areas!!!!
and how does your “bee in your bonnet” comment relate to this article?
I have to agree to a large extent – Some locations have no fibre availability even when OR and 2 other providers have ran fibre in at the end of their road. Then we villages next to those areas with no chance from any provider.
And some places are still reliant of connection back to the exchange. Installation with no plan just ‘Cherry Picking’.
As regards ‘booking doctors’ appointments’: Potentially dangerous for patients when they can’t do urgent appointments simply because of not having a smartphone, or being offline, even if only temporarily. NHS surgeries should not solely rely on poor quality 3rd party online services such as the one from accurx.com/primary-care
My doctor you can phone them, and then they fill in the form on your behalf. But trying to get an appointment these days within a couple of days or so is almost impossible, 5 weeks it took for me to get an appointment and then the Doctor told me off for leaving it for almost 10 years 🙂
I cancelled my home broadband line a few years ago. I had been paying £25 or something to Plusnet for a FTTC connection that did 50Mbit/s at most.
After contract they raised the price significantly unless I renewed but tbh it wasn’t even worth it at £25.
I have unlimited 5G from SMARTY on my phone for £15/month and get 600Mbit/s. So I just hotspot.
As a PRS landlord I’d happily have an Internet connection (without ‘phone) provided to my let properties and included in the rent cost but apparently that is removing choice from the tenants so not allowed – yet I have yet to find an internet service provider who will supply a service for less than 12 months on initial contract without expensive early closure charges.
Here is one: https://pulse8.co.uk/broadband-whole-house-wifi/
The main concern is the fact that providers have to charge so much for short-term contracts, possibly due to connection fees that are imposed by infrastructure providers.
I don’t have a solution for this. Something for OFCOM to examine perhaps.
This isn’t meant as a nitpick, but the reason short term contracts are expensive are;
CAC cost (marketing/cost of getting a customer) lets say it’s £50.
Equipment Cost A basic router plus P&P – lets say £45. Okay we can insist them returning it, but then we have to pay for reverse logistics reburb/resetting it, new box, etc – very little savings to be had there.
Install cost lets say it’s basic 115/20Mb OR FTTP – £65 as an average, it can be lower or higher depending on the type, discounts and so on.
Most wholesalers don’t have minimum terms or big costs to cancel, but the retailer is paying £150/200 in “upfront” costs that it has to spread over the term, so over 24 months it’s £7/month or something, no problem, but over a 6 month term..
Virgin, hyperoptic and others have this market licked because they don’t pay an install fee, very often a router just gets left in the property and activated by whoever turns up – the router presence/landlords agents act like free marketing so often no CAC. Not available everywhere though.
I think honestly most of this 5% will be urban, and while it’s clearly not ideal I can see the choices made here… you have to pay for a mobile phone contract anyway, they are about £10 a month with lots of data included if you’ve got good 4G/5G at home then why would you spend £30 on a broadband contract rather than just use your mobile. For some folks that’s alot of money for something they wont make massive use of.
Not everyone is a family of 4 or two young professionals with plenty of disposable income.
For what it’s worth OP, (I’m not a lawyer so this isn’t legal advice) but as far as I’m aware there’s no law against including broadband in the rent so long as you’re not profiting from it (i.e marking it up) or stopping the tenant from installing their own line if they prefer.
In practice I think most would thank you for it
Some people act as if it is a crime not to be online, there are some people who don’t need it or require it, some can’t afford to and a few that would not have a clue what to do.
Basically saying 5% have no interest in Interment so do not take it up
I don’t think it’s much of a surprise, particularly in the older age groups where people will not have “grown up” with internet access and smartphones etc. I imagine the number will decrease over time as the younger generations make up the majority of the sample.
Having broadband brings a whole host of other “issues” for some not used to technology – owning a computer or smartphone, apps, log ins, wifi can be mind-boggling for anyone not familiar, so it’s just easier to carry on picking up the phone/walking into a shop and speaking with someone.
Interviewing 70 people is hardly a significant sample to assess usage of the ‘net in general – especially as it seems to be persons with special needs.. Presumably the 5% figure has been garnered from providers statistics vs population/housing.
I agree with @Ad47uk’s comments – my partner cannot deal with the intricacies of many online services or shopping for example. And of course, anybody who is ‘off-grid’ (or doesn’t use social media) is considered weird and possibly dangerous.
I would suspect it’s alot more than 5% who don’t have internet access in the UK, also a huge differance between can’t get and don’t want. Needs to be more specific as to what kind of access they are on about fixed line, mobile or both?
Re: Dr / GP appointments, why is this taking place? Due to the utterly deluded management at Med and Dental schools. So far fewer Dr’s are being trained. This leads to them being forced to use tech whenever a prospective patient wants an appointment. There is a national shortage of Dr’s going into the tens of thousands, it is even worse for Dentists.That is why we have to wit weeks for an appointment.
Err . . err . . . . is an “Economic adjustment” in terms of pricing going to be in the pipeline to encourage all those retired non-users (62% of retired and 24% of the whole sample (Second only to the working population)) to join the happy breed watching “Adolescence” on Netflix.
My life ! Cultural enrichment at its best ?
The data doesn’t say that. It says that 24% of all respondents are retired, and 62% of all respondents without Internet access at home are retired.
It also mentions that of those that don’t have Internet access at home cost of either the equipment or the subscription is a factor for less than 1 in 3.
Economic adjustment in terms of pricing is already a thing. Social tariffs.
. . . “A” and “S” levels count for nuffink nowadays . . . its all “Have you got light-craft seafaring experiencing ?” and “Can you sing the first verse of the Pret-a-Manager company song ?”
You wrote that in response to an article on Internet usage. Are you okay?