Just as the demand for and use of home Wi-Fi increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, so did the complaints about Wi-Fi issues, according to a new report from Airties, a provider of managed Wi-Fi solutions for network operators.
Nearly six-in-10 (58%) survey respondents said they had more home Wi-Fi issues than before the pandemic, while more than half (55%) said they had daily issues with their home Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi is one of the most successful technologies of all time. A recent report pegged the technology’s worldwide economic value at $3.3 trillion.
The survey also found that most consumers don’t want do-it-yourself solutions home Wi-Fi, with 80% preferring that their broadband operator handle setting up Wi-Fi technology.
Among other survey findings:
- 90% of people said they are using their home Wi-Fi more now than ever, with, at the top end of the scale, almost half of Americans (48%) using their Wi-Fi for an additional 7-10 or more hours per day.
- 65% are using Wi-Fi in unusual places in their homes, such as garages, attics, and patios.
- 85% of respondents value or rely upon their home Wi-Fi more now than before the pandemic.
- 75% overall indicated that their broadband operator responded well during the pandemic.
- 58% of consumers said they would consider upgrading to a faster tier of Internet service if their broadband operator offered a premium Wi-Fi system that guaranteed both faster and consistent Wi-Fi in every room of their home
“During this unprecedented time, people have come to rely on and value their home Wi-Fi more than ever,” said Philippe Alcaras, CEO of Airties, in a prepared statement. “We have crossed an inflection point where home Wi-Fi is as vital as electricity for sustaining our way of life –keeping us productive, informed, entertained, and connected. Even as many countries begin opening more, reliance on home Wi-Fi has forever changed. Trends like the ‘enterprisation’ of the home, remote learning and telemedicine are here to stay, and with that [come] significant opportunities and challenges for broadband operators around the globe.”
The survey of 1,525 respondents across the U.S., U.K and Germany, either had to work or learn from home over the past year, thanks in large part to the pandemic.
