Improving mobile 'connectivity confidence' could give UK workers back three weeks a year — and boost the UK economy by billions

New research from VodafoneThree suggests that boosting mobile network connectivity confidence could provide UK workers with over three weeks of additional time per year, leading to a potential £115 billion productivity boost to the UK economy. The report, based on a study of 2,000 adults, found that a third of Brits feel unable to work outside their home or office Wi-Fi, and nearly half spend their days at a desk.

If workers felt more confident in the UK's mobile networks, 46% said they would prioritize working on the move, while 43% would use their phones for tasks such as accessing and collaborating on work documents, taking calls during commutes, and joining remote consultations. These productivity gains would amount to over 10 hours of extra work time per week, more than in France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Singapore, Hungary, and South Korea.

The lack of flexibility extends to weekends, with 34% of respondents saying their weekend to-do list would be shorter if they could be more productive on the go. British workers also cited a range of other time-wasting activities, such as booking GP appointments, paying utility bills, and buying tickets on-the-go, all of which could benefit from improved mobile connectivity.

Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer at VodafoneThree, emphasized the need for resilient and reliable mobile networks to support flexible working. The UK Government is taking the issue seriously, and VodafoneThree plans to invest £11 billion in improving connectivity across the country, aiming to deliver 5G Standalone coverage to 99% of the population by 2030.