The connectivity gap that could cost the UK millions  

Hearing radio interviews interrupted by “bad lines” is common these days. But Angela Rayner, then Deputy Prime Minister, buffering during a live interview from central London should raise eyebrows. 

If senior politicians can’t get a reliable connection in the capital, what hope is there for the rest of us? 

It’s a moment that perfectly captures our digital dilemma: mobile data usage has surged 260% since 2019, yet the digital infrastructure to provide this is lagging. The UK ranks just 53rd globally for download speeds. London, a leading financial centre, is second slowest among 11 major UK cities.  

Without better infrastructure, the opportunities of AI, data centres and economic growth cannot be realised. The UK needs investment and economic growth, so this isn’t just about streaming Netflix faster – one hour of internet downtime can cost a business £220,000 (WiredScore) and infrastructure rollout delays could cost the UK billions in lost growth. 

Cluttons’ research Connecting Today for Tomorrow shows only a third of MPs think residents understand the link between connectivity and the masts and cables that deliver it. Without public support for rollouts, progress stalls. That’s why we are urgently calling for a national information campaign to explain why digital infrastructure matters, alongside more Digital Placemakers in local authorities to coordinate rollouts to close this understanding gap.  

Connectivity is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Policymakers now need to act like it.