Broadband is one of those quiet issues that bubbles away in the background.

Unlike other sectors where hefty state intervention has created a Potemkin village of a market (hello, energy), broadband is largely footloose.

But there is something of an exception to this rule – how the internet physically arrives in our homes.

This is done through a bit of meddling back in the 2000s, when post-privatisation BT was compelled by the communications regulator Ofcom to provide internet infrastructure into people’s homes, which could then be used by competitor business to provide broadband services.

Openreach was born.

Openreach is wholly owned by BT, but any broadband business can effectively use the network to sell internet provision.

This works nicely, in theory. In practice it comes with a couple of significant issues.

The first is that updating the infrastructure is expensive and difficult. This means many homes in the UK suffer from low-quality internet speeds, despite the existence of enormous theoretical modern download and upload speeds.

Data from Ofcom in 2023 showed only half (52%) of UK homes actually use faster full-fibre broadband (i.e. have high speed connections).

While three quarters (75%) of homes now have the option to receive such high speeds (but just under a quarter haven’t adopted), the other 25% of homes are not even able to access to such high-speed services.

This equates to nearly 7.5 MILLION homes in the UK with no access to the best quality broadband modernity can provide.

More from Edmund Greaves

Living in rural areas

The truth here is that rural areas are the ones that lose out on high-speed internet.

Here’s a handy map of the UK from thinkbroadband.com to illustrate that:

This shows full fibre broadband coverage by parliamentary constituency. You can see the colour key on the top left.

The long and short of this is, once you leave the main urban conurbations thing start to get quite patchy. It’s worth having a look at the tool yourself as I was unable to easily show a more detailed picture for the purposes of this article.

You can also use Ofcom’s phone and broadband coverage checker to see what your area has in terms of coverage, but that doesn’t come with a spiffy map unfortunately.

We have our own experiences with this living in North Devon. Although we’re in a town, when we first moved into our home we were using an Openreach connection. But without painting too much of a picture, it was crap.

Rural areas are increasingly served now by rural and regional broadband infrastructure providers. Without offering up an exhaustive list, the two we have around here are Jurassic Fibre and Airband.

We actually switched to Airband and now enjoy speeds of 300mbps+ download speeds as a matter of routine – speeds which simply weren’t on offer from an Openreach-based provider where we live.

The reason for this lack of speedy options in many rural locations is simply put, its not worth it to the operator.

Think of it like this: if you have a town with 10,000 houses in it and no high-speed internet, then if you build a line into all those houses you notionally unlock 10,000 new customers.

But what if that location doesn’t have 10,000 houses, maybe it only has 100. You still have to put the same sort of infrastructure in place to get the high-speed line to the location, but once you do, it only unlocks a tiny amount of potential new business. It doesn’t make economic sense.

Now, much pressure has been applied to improve this situation. Indeed in 2021 big changes were announced to improve the rollout of rurl fibre by Ofcom. Great.

Starlink arrives

Here’s a question though: what if all this new, expensive and time-consuming infrastructure was totally unnecessary? What if a solution already exists that means even the most rural of rural homes can have fast, reliable internet.

Enter: Starlink.

Starlink is the brainchild of controversial billionaire Elon Musk. Wholly owned by his space-tech business SpaceX, it is essentially a global network of satellites that provide fast internet to anywhere in the world, with no need for old-fashioned underground cables.

You buy an antenna (roughly £300), pay the monthly no-contract subscription (£75 a month) and away you go. £75 compared with typical broadband deals is high, but that is sort of irrelevant if the £30 a month line you pay for delivers a totally crap service.

This was what I spoke to Debbie Greenfield, head of production at adviser network Octo Members. Debbie lives in a rural (although tbh, not crazily rural) area of Southern England, works remotely in a job that requires fast and reliable internet, and has a horrible broadband connection. So she turned to Starlink (as have a number of her similarly-frustrated neighbours).

You can hear my full chat with her on the Mouthy Money Podcast page.

To cut a long story short, getting Starlink totally fixed her internet issues. Now, it came with some setup costs that she details in the podcast, but as a solution it sounds remarkably more efficient than what the broadband firms seem to be trying to do.

The applications of the technology are intriguing too – you can get a mobile receiver for travelling, or even one to mount on a campervan (if you’re lucky enough to own one!). It has commercial applications in hard-to-reach places such as on boats or for businesses that operate in remote areas.

Let’s not forget too that this tech notionally does away with the need for mobile signal provision and infrastructure too, no more 4G and 5G masts (and good luck getting a decent 5G connection outside of major towns and cities).

The reasons for creating new technologies and infrastructure (no matter if they come from controversial billionaires) are pretty good ones.

Time and again we’re tethered to the idea that providing more of the same, more and more, and piling money into it, is the way to fix the world.

While most homes do now have good broadband, many do not. Should we put more money toward that, or try something else instead?

This article, and the associated podcast, is in no way commercially affiliated with Starlink. We have not been paid to promote the brand or its products.

Photo credits: Pexels

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Due partly to the pandemic and lockdowns, many people now work from home some or all of the time. And many others now run home-based businesses or are considering setting one up.

Working from home (for those whose jobs make it feasible) has become a widely accepted part of the modern work landscape. While it offers unparalleled flexibility – not to mention time and money savings – it can also present some unique challenges. 

I have been working from home for over 30 years now, so in this article I thought I’d set out my top ten tips based on my experience. If you have recently started working from home, or expect to do so in future, I hope you might find this helpful.

These tips apply equally if you’re working for an employer or running a home-based business of the type often discussed in Mouthy Money.

1. Create a dedicated workspace

Designate a specific area in your home for work. Ideally this could be a separate study or office, but at least a quiet corner where you can set up your equipment and files and not have to pack everything away at the end of the day. Growing numbers of people now use garden sheds or extensions for home working, and this can be a good solution as well. 

Whether it’s a spare room or just a corner of your living room, having a dedicated workspace helps establish boundaries and signals to your brain that it is time to work.

2. Stick to a routine

Maintaining a regular schedule can significantly boost your productivity. Start your day at the same time, get dressed as if you were going to the office, and set clear working hours. This routine helps create a sense of normalcy and discipline. This is especially important when you are first starting out in WFH.

3. Take regular breaks

It’s essential to take breaks to avoid burnout. The Pomodoro Technique, which involves working for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break, can be very effective. Use these breaks to stretch, grab a healthy snack or take a short walk. 

4. Stay connected

Isolation can be a significant drawback of working from home. This can be especially challenging if you are used to (and enjoy) having colleagues to talk to. Build some social interactions into every day if possible – ideally face to face, but at least via the phone and/or social media.

If you’re working from home for an employer, communicate regularly with your colleagues through video calls, instant messaging or virtual coffee breaks. Staying connected helps maintain team spirit and reduces feelings of loneliness. It can also offer opportunities to bounce ideas around and gain different perspectives on problems.

5. Set clear boundaries

Establish boundaries with family or housemates to minimise interruptions during work hours. Communicate your schedule and set up a system for when you can and cannot be disturbed.

6. Invest in quality equipment

A comfortable chair, a reliable computer, and a good internet connection are crucial. Ergonomic furniture can prevent back and neck pain, and a fast internet connection ensures you can participate in virtual meetings without interruptions. 

Obviously if you are working for an employer they should assist with this. But if you are running your own business you can at least claim the cost against taxable income. A good accountant will advise you about this.

7. Manage your time effectively

Prioritise tasks and set clear goals for each day. Tools like Trello, Asana, or even just a simple to-do list can help keep you on track. Time management techniques, such as time blocking, can also help in making the most of your day.

8. Maintain a healthy work-life balance

Working from home can blur the lines between work and personal life. Make it a point to log off at the end of your working day and engage in activities that help you relax and recharge, such as reading, exercising or spending time with friends and family.

9. Keep learning and upgrading your skills

Use the time saved on commuting to invest in professional development. Online courses, webinars and virtual workshops can help you acquire new skills and stay competitive in your field.

10. Practise self-care

Mental and physical health should be a priority. Incorporate activities like meditation, yoga or simple breathing exercises into your daily routine. Take regular exercise and get out in the fresh air. Ensure you get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet and stay hydrated.

By applying these tips, you can create a productive and balanced work-from-home environment. Embrace the flexibility WFH offers, while taking steps to maintain your personal well-being and professional efficiency.

As always, if you have any comments on this article, please do leave them below.

Nick Daws writes for Pounds and Sense, a UK personal finance blog aimed especially (though not exclusively) at over-fifties.

Photo credits: Pexels

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Q. I moved to remote working during the pandemic, but my boss now wants me to return to the office on a more regular basis. Can she do this? I’ve moved further away from our place of work making commuting very expensive. Can I ask for help paying? What are my rights? 

A. It depends on the terms of the contract and if the contract was changed permanently to allow home working.  

Many employers during the pandemic asked or agreed with employees that they should work from home, but in most cases this was a temporary arrangement.

If the employer agreed to permanent home-working and there is evidence to support this, the employer will be in breach of contract by insisting that the employee returns to original place of work. 

Some employers have since adopted a hybrid method of working, with home-working for several days each week, as this has proved to be beneficial to both parties.  

After a period of time, the courts may deem that the contract terms have been altered by conduct because the parties have adopted a way of doing something. Whether this applies will depend on the specific facts. 

An employee may have the right to request flexible working which could provide a solution. The law on flexible working changed on 6 April giving employees additional rights, including the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.  

Employers must also consult with the employee before refusing a request and try to find a suitable arrangement. Employers must only refuse requests for flexible working if they have a specified business reason.

This could be the cost, the impact on productivity or quality of your work, that your employees would have to do more work, or that there is no suitable work to be done from home.  

It might be more difficult for your employer to justify their decision if the current arrangement has been working, but not impossible.  

An employee can ask for additional travel expenses if their costs have gone up after moving away from the office, but there isn’t a right to insist. 

It’s in everyone’s interests to resolve the issue amicably. The employee should speak to their boss to find out why a return to the office is important and explain their own situation. It might be possible to reach a compromise, such as splitting their workdays between the office and home, without having to escalate the issue further. 

Ian qualified as a solicitor in 1991. He had experience as a Partner and Head of Employment Law and Litigation with larger firms before setting up Spencer Shaw in 2007. 

Ian has experience in all aspects of employment law and his experience includes taking claims on appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.

He was a finalist for Partner of the Year at the Birmingham Law Society Awards 2023. The firm is Lexcel accredited by the Law Society and has been shortlisted for awards by Lexis Nexis, Legal Business, Birmingham Law Society, and the Modern Law Awards.

Photo Credits: Pexels

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