Finally escaping the drudgery of the early morning commute, millions of people across the UK are now choosing to work from home on a regular basis. Perhaps more importantly, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) believes that more than 50% of the population will be working remotely by the end of next year.
Without question, this more flexible way of working has come as a result of growing internet speeds and other advances in technology. Following the introduction of fast broadband, remote workers are now presented with the opportunity to work in places that best suit them – so long as they’ve got access to a laptop and strong Wi-Fi signal.
Improved home broadband deals and connections have undoubtedly played a key role in the rise of remote working practises, and will continue to do so as UK businesses finally embrace these evolving trends.
A More Reliable Connection
Before broadband, homeowners had to make do with inconsistent (often downright infuriating) dial-up connections, which made a horrendous noise every time they loaded up and meant you couldn’t use the landline at the same time. Although younger internet users might fail to recognise the unmistakable sounds of dial-up, those of a certain age will remember the painful loading times all too clearly.
Fortunately, the advent of broadband changed the game entirely, bringing faster and more reliable internet connections which opened users up to endless possibilities. Providing internet access without clogging up the phone lines, broadband has developed rapidly over the past 20 years, with ultrafast fibre connections now capable of providing speeds of 350 Mbps.
Although most households won’t require such high speeds, even a standard home broadband connection allows users to get online wherever they are. For those attempting to work remotely, such a reliable internet connection is essential to improving productivity and communicating with co-workers.
Faster Internet Speeds
In addition to being significantly steadier and more reliable, broadband connections also provide much faster speeds. A standard ADSL connection, for example, will typically offer speeds of around 10 Mbps, although this will obviously depend on your location and choice of provider. To put this into context, the maximum speed of modern dial-up is just 56 Kbps.
These increased speeds are certainly a requirement for any households connecting to the internet via multiple devices, while they also allow remote workers to download large files at a much faster rate. Whether you’re opening emails, browsing the web or sharing files with colleagues, working from home just isn’t possible without an adequate broadband connection.
Stay Connected with Employees
Even though remote working will help you achieve a better work-life balance, you could also begin to feel isolated, lonely and unsupported. Whether you’re a freelancer running your own business or an employee working from home, it’s always important to collaborate and connect with your colleagues wherever possible, since this will ultimately help to keep you motivated and improve the overall quality of results.
Thanks to the introduction of broadband, remote workers now have access to an entire suite of online communication and collaboration tools, ensuring they can always receive the support they need and continue to work as part of a team. From instant messaging and emails to video conferences and cloud-based workspaces, a strong broadband connection makes it easier to stay in touch with your colleagues.
However, as this collaborative technology becomes more advanced, improved broadband speeds are required for it to function effectively, with video meetings proving particularly demanding. Without the ability to collaborate effectively and conveniently, remote working simply won’t work for you, and an inadequate broadband connection can quickly lead to a blurry picture, slow loading times and, above all, inefficient communications.