The way Britain works has changed for good.
A new report from the House of Lords Home-based Working Committee – “Is working from home working?” – confirms what many of us have long known: the ability to work remotely depends entirely on the strength of the UK’s digital infrastructure.
Hybrid and home-based working have become a permanent feature of the modern economy. They are helping parents, carers, and people with disabilities take up jobs that would once have been out of reach. They are reshaping local economies, reducing pressures around long commutes, and helping employers recruit from a wider pool of talent.
But this shift only works when the connections behind it do.
The Lords Committee found that while home working can boost employment and productivity, many people are still held back by patchy broadband coverage and persistent digital inequality. Reliable, gigabit-capable broadband underpins access to modern employment and education. Without it, opportunities to participate fully in today’s economy are limited.
At the Independent Networks Cooperative Association (INCA), we were proud to contribute evidence to the Committee’s inquiry. Our members – the UK’s independent network operators, known as Altnets – are building the fibre networks that make modern working possible. They are connecting communities that larger operators have too often left behind, from rural villages to growing towns and small cities.
The report echoes many of the points we raised. It highlights the need for long-term investment in digital infrastructure, a clear roadmap to achieve the Government’s 99% connectivity target under Project Gigabit, and continued support for competition to drive innovation and affordability.
If the UK wants to unlock the full potential of hybrid work, then broadband must be seen as an employment issue as much as an infrastructure one. The ability to work from home, start a business, or access education depends on digital access. Where broadband is poor, opportunity is limited.
Independent network providers have invested billions to deliver full-fibre connectivity across the UK, creating a genuine alternative to legacy operators and ensuring competition reaches every corner of the market. Their role in achieving the UK’s digital ambitions cannot be overstated.
What happens next will determine whether the country’s digital revolution delivers lasting economic inclusion. The Government must now ensure that Project Gigabit remains fully funded, that regulation continues to support fair competition, and that digital adoption is championed alongside physical rollout.
The goal extends beyond faster broadband. It’s about enabling people to access work, education and the full range of opportunities that digital connectivity makes possible.
The UK’s ambition for a modern, flexible workforce depends on getting this right.
By Paddy Paddison, CEO
