As internet usage soars to 97.8% of the UK population, the UK has established itself as the top tech ecosystem in Europe. However, ensuring that everyone benefits from these advances in tech remains a challenge, especially when it comes to broadband access.

This is according to Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA UK), which found that advances in gigabit broadband capabilities and reach can be a springboard for future UK tech success, but that these advancements are often not applied evenly across the country.

Still, support for upgrading telecoms infrastructure is supported by the majority (78%) of Britons, as broadband becomes a daily necessity of life, only surpassed by supermarkets, according to the report.

There has been marked improvements thanks to government initiatives and private investment, with 84% of residential and commercial properties now able to access gigabit-capable broadband, and 74% full-fibre broadband.

However, connecting all of Britain remains a problem.

“The current political and economic environment makes raising additional capital to carry out this essential work increasingly difficult,” Steve Leighton, chair of ISPA, wrote in the report.

“At the same time, ISPA UK members are being asked to shoulder greater responsibility for what actually happens online, whether that be affordability, online safety, digital skills, or fraud,” he added.

Most (72%) of the UK public view internet providers continuing to invest in infrastructure upgrades as important. Further, more than three in four (78%) of UK people believe that it is important for everyone in the UK to have access to fast, reliable internet.

Expanding broadband coverage is therefore politically a popular move, as well as economically beneficial.

A lack of broadband would negatively impact people – 44% say they would struggle to contact people, 40% would struggle to access essential services, and about a third (32%) would find it nearly impossible to study or work without a home broadband connection.

With nearly half (41%) of UK employers now permitting hybrid work, the importance of strong broadband connectivity is stronger than ever.

Further, most (62%) of the UK public believes in a level of sacrifice for overall better coverage, understanding that short term traffic disruption is a necessary trade-off to provide long-term improvements to broadband access.

The UK public would often forgo other products and services before broadband, with almost half (49%) willing to sacrifice the gym, 42% willing to forgo alcohol, and a quarter willing to ditch coffee or tea.

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Broadband was considered more important than utilities like gas, water, and electricity, mobile network providers, and banks, in the eyes of the UK public.

The research also revealed regional distinctions in broadband prioritisation and rollout speed. While more and more Britains see access to connectivity a fundamental right, these figures were higher in Scotland (83%) than the national average (78%).

This is despite broadband rollout in Scotland being the slowest in the four nations – this likely reflects the real economic and social cost of a lack of broadband in Scotland’s more rural and remote regions, which emphasises the importance of the infrastructure.

When it comes to who bears the brunt of responsibility, the UK public reported a mixed bag: 41% think the national government should take the lead, while 40% think broadband providers should bear equal responsibility. Less than a quarter (23%) think the responsibility should be on local government.

Based on these findings, the ISPA is calling on the government to reaffirm its commitment to the rollout of future-proof digital infrastructure via Project Gigabit to connect more homes and businesses to gigabit-capable broadband to reach the government’s target of 99% of UK premises by 2032.