Adventurer Simon Reeve helps Vodafone bring fast 5G broadband to millions

One-in-five (20%) have cut a visit to their parent’s house short due to poor connectivity, while 19% have ruled out a romantic partner without fast WiFi. But there is a better way.

Two-in-three Brits (67%) say slow or unreliable broadband is their biggest pet peeve, with 4 million saying they would consider moving home for better connectivity*.
More than a third (35%) wouldn’t stay somewhere with patchy WiFi broadband, and one-in-five have even cut visits to family short.
Nearly a quarter (24%) rely on hotspotting from their phone every day due to slow broadband at home.
New research lands as Vodafone launches 5G Broadband, bringing powerful, reliable speeds to millions of homes via its 5G network, including 3.7 million households still stuck on slow copper or part‑fibre connections.
These homes are all across the UK – cities, suburbs and some places so remote that Vodafone enlisted adventurer Simon Reeve to help deliver it: watch the video now.

Vodafone is helping to tackle the issue with the launch of Vodafone 5G Broadband, bringing fast, flexible connectivity to homes across the UK via its 5G network.

Vodafone’s new 5G Broadband offers full-fibre-like speeds and unlimited connectivity instantly¹, providing an alternative broadband solution for homes experiencing slow speeds, or anyone who wants more flexibility and ease – including movers, renters and students.

By combining 5G Broadband with its existing full fibre footprint, Vodafone can now bring powerful, reliable broadband to over 26 million homes – more than any other UK provider.²

The launch comes as new research reveals the majority of Brits (87%) say a fast WiFi connection at home is ‘essential’ in their day-to-day lives. Going the extra mile to deliver powerful broadband, Vodafone recruited adventurer Simon Reeve to traverse land and sea to get 5G routers to residents in picturesque Cornwall.

And while they may enjoy an idyllic setting, with no reliable broadband available, their WiFi is less than picture perfect. This is not just in the depths of the countryside, however, as many Brits in towns and cities still can’t access reliable broadband at home. In fact, more than 60% of the 3.7 million UK homes currently without access to full fibre are located in cities.

The impact is clear. One-in-five (20%) have cut a visit to their parent’s house short due to poor connectivity, while 19% have ruled out a romantic partner without fast WiFi. 20.4 million* Brits would even consider moving house if it meant they could connect to fast and reliable broadband – with more than half (54%) willing to forgo a bigger house or garden for seamless connectivity.

And people are going to extraordinary lengths to stay connected, as poor home WiFi disrupts the working week. New research reveals 87% say reliable connectivity is essential for their job, with 42% now working from home at least once a week.

For many, losing internet access brings work to a complete halt. Almost one-in-five (18%) admit they’ve logged off for the rest of the day, calling it a ‘technical write-off’.

And, as nearly half of the population (49%) rely on their phone network to hotspot other devices – with 24% doing so daily due to slow and unreliable WiFi – the impact is adding up. Nearly one-in-five (17%) say they burn through their monthly data to supplement their home broadband.

Simon Reeve said: “I’ve travelled to some of the most remote places on earth, and I know just how important it is to stay connected. Even at home in Devon, I’ve had to resort to wandering around a field, sitting on scaffolding and even banning my son from streaming to combat slow WiFi.

“So, it’s significant that Vodafone is bringing powerful broadband to millions more homes across the UK that up to now have had to make do with slow connectivity.

“Vodafone 5G Broadband can be connected in an instant, and although my quest to get it to the Cornish countryside wasn’t straightforward, getting the locals connected to powerful broadband couldn’t have been simpler.”

Launching alongside Vodafone 5G Broadband is a new integrated availability checker on the Vodafone website, designed to make choosing the right connection effortless.

Customers simply enter their postcode to find out if full fibre or 5G Broadband will give them the fastest speeds in their area. For homes where the outdoor 5G signal is stronger than indoors, Vodafone has introduced an outdoor hub to provide an extra boost.

A VodafoneThree spokesperson said: “Slow or unreliable broadband is still a daily frustration for millions of people across the nation, whether they live in a remote hamlet or the middle of a busy city. And our research shows just how much it impacts people’s lives.

“This launch means we’re giving customers real choice: full‑fibre broadband where it’s available, and powerful 5G Broadband where it’s not – plus, better options for anyone just wanting speed with ease and flexibility.

“Together, our broadband offerings allow us to bring fast, reliable connectivity to more than 26 million homes across the UK, helping people stay connected in the way that works best for them.”

Vodafone 5G Broadband is available now. For more information visit the Vodafone website, and watch Simon’s epic adventure now. And stay up to date with the latest news from VodafoneThree by following us on LinkedIn and Twitter/X.

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Notes to Editors

¹ Instant out of the box set-up: Vodafone’s 5G Broadband comes with an indoor hub as standard, as well as an outdoor hub for households with stronger signal outdoors. The indoor hub provides instant out-of-the-box setup and no engineer required. The outdoor hub requires self-installation.

² Vodafone Full Fibre and 5G Broadband Footprint: Vodafone is the UK’s largest full fibre broadband provider reaching 23.2 million UK homes and premises. Vodafone data sourced by Vodafone network data. Comparative data is independently verified by thinkbroadband.com, results based on availability of CityFibre, Openreach, OFNL, Virgin Media, and Community Fibre as of 7 April 2026.

The research of 2,000 Brits aged 18+ years old took place between 9-12 May and was conducted by 3Gem on behalf of Vodafone.

* 37% of respondents said Yes (definitely/maybe) they would consider moving house. X by the population of UK adults (55.2M) = 20,424,000

Fixed broadband using mobile network. Operates on 5G where available; may use 4G in limited circumstances. 30-day or 24-month contract. Max speeds are either 50Mpbs or 150Mpbs depending on location. Order today, online tomorrow: order by 10pm on weekdays, 8pm on weekends. Based on correct customer installation and usual postal timelines. Credit, acceptance and availability checks. Terms apply: vodafone.co.uk/terms.

About VodafoneThree

VodafoneThree is the UK’s largest mobile network operator serving the fixed and mobile market, formed following the merger of Vodafone UK and Three UK in June 2025.

Through an unprecedented £11 billion investment, VodafoneThree will build the UK’s best network. The network will deliver reliable, quality connectivity to all nations and regions, creating as many as 13,000 jobs and laying a digital foundation for the country’s growth ambitions. VodafoneThree is the only mobile network operator with a fully funded, regulated and guaranteed network build plan, reaching 99.95% population coverage by 2034. From big cities to small towns, and everywhere in between, the company’s mission is to build the UK’s best network.

VodafoneThree is a private company, 51% owned by Vodafone and 49% owned by CK Hutchison Holdings. It encompasses all businesses and assets, including Vodafone UK, Three UK, VOXI Mobile, SMARTY and Talkmobile.

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