Poor home-internet connection costs Aussie workers over 100 hours a year
It is one of Australia’s most ubiquitous inventions but Wi-Fi could be causing you more problems than it’s worth.
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With Aussies relying on strong home Wi-Fi more than ever, new research reveals 62 per cent are dissatisfied with their internet connection and one in four say poor Wi-Fi has impacted their work.
Despite working from home partially or full-time is now the norm for many of us, research commissioned by Amazon Devices has revealed poor internet connections costs Aussie businesses 100 hours a year, per worker in lost time.
According to the research conducted by YouGov, more than one in three Australians admit that internet issues are a major burden when working from home, with 62 per cent of us wishing we had better internet connectivity.
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In addition to time lost, more than one in four say that poor Wi-Fi has impacted their work, with 15 per cent unable to complete tasks due to poor internet connection and 12 per cent losing work due to a poor connection.
And it’s not just our work that is suffering either with our patience and enjoyment of our free time also taking a hit. Almost a sixth of Australians admitted to becoming irritable and arguing with friends, family or partners due to poor Wi-Fi, while 31 per cent of us have struggled to connect to streaming services to watch movies and TV shows.
While working from home has proven to have many benefits for the Aussie workforce, it appears our Wi-Fi connection is still one of the few negatives. Other key findings from the YouGov report include:
● One in three Australians use their phone’s hotspot in order to maintain their connection
● For almost one in ten reported econnectivity has been so bad they’ve had to go to a public venue to access free Wi-Fi
● It’s not just poor Wi-Fi that’s affecting the at-home workforce:
– For 26 per cent of Aussies working from home, having a lack of space or an appropriate work set up is most frustrating
– A further 26 per cent say it’s having noisy housemates, neighbours or family that are the biggest frustration
– Ergonomics and comfort is also a concern. Just under one in five Aussies working from home say they have an unsuitable work chair
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For those experiencing poor Wi-Fi connection, experts recommend doing the following to improve speed:
– Buying the right router (researcher recommended (eero 6 mesh Wi-Fi system)
– Buy the fastest plan you can afford
– Check your hardware and connection for faults
– Change providers – smaller operators can often provide better speeds
FAQs: Home internet
How much internet speed do I need?
According to the government’s NBN Statement of Expectations, 25 Mbps is the minimum speed that can be classified as “fast internet”. However, it depends on your household requirement. 100 Mbps is suitable for four or more heavy internet users, while 50 Mbps will suit 3-4 moderate to heavy users.
Is an NBN connection the fastest?
The fastest residential NBN plans available offer 100Mbps downloads. There are some faster connection options for those who get fibre-to-the-premises connections but for the majority, NBN speed won’t top 100Mbps.
Is mobile broadband a good alternative to NBN?
Mobile broadband uses 4G or 5G cellular networks to connect your devices to the internet, similar to home wireless broadband. However, it’s usually an option that works best for on-the-go broadband use, rather than as a total home internet solution.
Can 5G replace home internet?
5G is the next generation in mobile technology. Optus and Telstra have already begun offering 5G home internet plans via wireless modem or 5G enabled devices.
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