Simon Reeve’s unexpected adventure… delivering 5G broadband | UK | News

Adventurer Simon Reeve has revealed he has taken extreme steps to connect to the internet, including enlarging scaffolding outside his home.

The author and presenter has traveled to some of the world’s most remote places, including the Arctic, the Congo Rainforest and the Kalahari Desert.

But despite being based in the UK, he is one of millions of Brits living at home who do not have access to full fiber broadband.

The result is often slow and unreliable Wi-Fi. According to Vodafone’s new research, 67% of participants say this is their biggest problem.

Almost a quarter (24%) rely on hotspot detection from their phone every day, but 87% say fast Wi-Fi is essential at home.

Simon said: “I have traveled to some of the most remote places in the world and I know how important it is to stay connected.

“Even at home in Devon I’ve had to forbid my son from streaming to wander around a field, sit on a dock and even struggle with slow Wi-Fi.”

Simon isn’t the only one making great efforts to stay connected; 55% admit to making business calls in unusual places when signal drops, including the garden (18%), the car (14%) and even the bathroom (11%).

For many people, losing internet access means abandoning the workday altogether; 18% say they log off for the rest of the day.

But there is a solution. Vodafone is launching 5G Broadband, which will benefit around 3.7 million households in the UK who do not yet have access to full fibre.

Some of these are in such remote areas that Simon set out to help by traveling over land and sea to deliver 5G routers to residents of a remote hamlet in rural Cornwall.

Simon said: “It’s really important that Vodafone brings stronger broadband internet to millions of homes in the UK who have until now had to make do with a slow connection.

“Vodafone 5G Broadband connects instantly and although my quest to bring it to the Cornish countryside hasn’t been easy, getting local people connected to strong broadband couldn’t be easier.”

The service is designed for homes without full fibre, including the millions still reliant on slow copper and partial fiber connections. Many live in cities, and surprisingly, more than 60% of the 3.7 million people without full fiber live in cities.

A Vodafone spokesperson added: “Slow or unreliable broadband is still a daily frustration for millions of people across the country, whether they live in a remote village or in the middle of a busy city.

“Our research shows how much this impacts people’s lives. With the addition of Vodafone 5G Broadband, we’re giving our customers a real choice: full fiber broadband where it’s available and powerful 5G Broadband where it’s not, plus better options for anyone who wants speed, convenience and flexibility.”

“We can now provide a strong and reliable service to 26 million homes through our broadband solutions, more than any other provider in the UK.”

To learn more and check which option is best for you, go to: www.vodafone.co.uk/broadband/5g-home-broadband