Articles
1. Is the speed of your internet connection at home sufficient for your needs?
Yes: 72%
No: 26%
Don't know: 2%
With the exception of those working from home on a regular basis, PE readers are happy with their download speeds. Only a handful saying it affects their usage, particularly during evening peak times. There is also a clear distinction between those who live in rural areas, who are unhappy with their speeds, as opposed to those in towns and cities. Some people see extra bandwidth as superfluous.
2. Do you think the programme to upgrade the UK’s communications infrastructure to high-speed broadband is being managed well?
Yes: 15%
No: 39%
Don't know: 46%
The lack of knowledge about the government’s Digital Communications’ Infrastructure Strategy and BT Openreach’s role in it is perhaps indicative of the poor progress being made. Those in the know perceive its performance as sub-standard.
3. Would you like to see the government open up the internet communications market more in an effort to spur innovation?
Yes: 67%
No: 15%
Don't know: 18%
A majority in favour of free-market economics here. The recent calls to split BT and Openreach haven’t gone unheard by engineers, although there was some doubt that other organisations would do a better job than BT.
4. Are you concerned that rapid advances in digital communications have left society more vulnerable to terrorism and criminality?
Yes: 66%
No: 29%
Don't know: 5%
Most
PE readers see internet communications as creating more risks in society that need to be managed. Many believe things will improve as the technology matures. However, a sizeable group of pragmatists saw the benefits of digital communications as outweighing the risks it also brings.
5. Do you see internet access as essential a service as water or energy?
Yes: 62%
No: 29%
Don't know: 9%
There was a lot of debate about this question. Understandably, life would go on without the internet, but a growing reliance on it has meant its complete loss would be devastating, even impacting the provision of other services. However, PE readers question the need to have access to the internet constantly, and indeed whether such an arrangement is sensible.
6. Do you consider the UK a global leader in internet communications?
Yes: 23%
No: 50%
Don't know: 27%
A familiar story of an opportunity squandered to those familiar with the beginnings of fibre-optic networks in the UK in the 1980s. But many PE readers said they were ignorant of the main issues at work here. Overall the UK is seen to lag behind in terms of quality and capacity of its network with lots of people placing faith in the strength of the country’s research base in this area to ensure it doesn’t get left behind in the longer term.
7. Are you concerned that slow internet connections will harm business and industry’s future competitiveness?
Yes: 77%
No: 17%
Don't know: 6%
An overwhelming confirmation that higher-speed internet is seen as vital to businesses that want to develop in the future. Digital communication is seen by PE readers as a powerful medium for commerce and of growing importance. To not improve risks becoming irrelevant in the world.
8. Are you worried about any possible detrimental health effects of wi-fi and mobile phone signals?
Yes: 21%
No: 67%
Don't know: 12%
Although some respondents pointed out that it was unfair to bracket wi-fi and mobile phone signals together, most people were more concerned about mobile phone signals.PE readers also noted a lack of proper evidence and research.