Brits could reclaim more than three weeks of unproductive time each year by managing their lives more effectively from their mobile phones while on the move, according to research by VodafoneThree.
The average person loses nearly two hours a week commuting and over an hour in waiting rooms. Picking up children and other dependents also consumes more than an hour of potentially useful time. In total, Brits' unproductive time amounts to more than 10 hours a week, exceeding that of Hungary, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Singapore, and South Korea.
Potential economic boost
If the UK adopted the on-the-go mentality of Hungary, ranked the most productive in the study, Brits could gain 22 days a year. The knock-on effect is significant, with the country missing out on an annual £115 billion boost to the economy because workers cannot make better use of their time on the move.
The biggest gains could come from simple everyday tasks, such as accessing and collaborating on work documents, taking calls while commuting, and joining remote NHS consultations.
Fixed-location habits
The research also found that many Brits still feel tied to fixed locations, with a third reluctant to leave their home or office Wi-Fi and almost half tied to their desk for most of their working day. Lack of flexibility extends beyond the working week, with 34% saying their weekend to-do list would be shorter if they could be more productive on the go.
The findings follow a government consultation focused on supporting investment and innovation in mobile infrastructure to drive growth nationwide.
Network investment
VodafoneThree is investing £11 billion to improve the UK's mobile networks, with 5G Standalone coverage set to reach 99% of the population by 2030 and 99.96% by 2034. The rollout will help Brits work more productively on the go, boost access to public services, and cut NHS costs. Estimates suggest improved connectivity could eliminate more than 35 million missed remote appointments a year by allowing people to book and reschedule on the go, with a potential annual saving of £1.36 billion.
Andrea Donà, chief network officer at VodafoneThree, said: “Boosting the UK’s productivity doesn’t have to mean spending more hours behind our desks. But to change the way the nation works, we need mobile networks that keep us connected to colleagues, technology and essential services on the move.”
“Our £11 billion network investment is already helping communities across the UK to be more connected, productive and prosperous. But to truly catch up with the rest of Europe and beyond, we have to treat our mobile networks as Critical National Infrastructure.”
“The UK Government is rightly taking this issue seriously. With improvements to the planning system and regulations fit for the digital economy, our networks can help to make public services more accessible, close digital divides and lay the foundations for growth.”
