Key findings: 

  • 46% of Britons say 5G has improved their digital experiences
  • Younger adults and higher-income groups are the most likely to agree
  • Views remain mixed as the UK’s 5G rollout and adoption continue

As 5G coverage continues to expand across the UK, faster speeds and lower latency are gradually reshaping how Britons experience the digital world. From streaming and gaming to remote work and smart tech, the promise of 5G has become more tangible, though not everyone feels the benefits equally.

According to YouGov Profiles data, over four in 10 Britons (46%) say that 5G improves their digital experiences such as streaming, speed of apps etc. In November 2021, this figure was 25%.

Nearly a third of Britons (32%) are on the fence about it, and about a quarter, 23%, say they don’t agree that 5G improves their digital experiences, down from 38% in November 2021.

Younger Britons lead in saying 5G improves their digital experiences

Younger Britons are the most likely to feel the benefits of 5G. Six in ten (61%) adults aged 18 to 34 say the technology has improved their digital experiences, the highest across all age groups. This figure drops slightly among those aged 35 to 54 (55%), while just three in ten (29%) of those aged 55 and over share that sentiment.

Older Britons are also the most likely to be neutral about 5G’s impact, with nearly half (43%) neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and 28% saying it hasn’t improved their experience.

Income shapes how Britons view 5G’s impact

Different income groups view the impact of 5G differently. Six in ten higher-income Britons (60%) — those earning more than 200% of the median income — agree that 5G has improved their digital experiences. This compares with nearly half (48%) of middle-income earners and just over a third (36%) of those in the lower income bracket.

Middle-income Britons appear more positive than those on lower incomes but remain less convinced than the wealthiest groups, a pattern that may reflect differences in access to newer devices, stronger network coverage, or data plans. Among lower-income Britons, views are more mixed: over a third (36%) neither agree nor disagree, and nearly three in ten (29%) disagree.

Among those who haven’t chosen an income bracket, 38% agree with the statement and a similar proportion (39%) neither agree nor disagree, and over two in ten (23%) disagree.

Overall, almost half of Britons say that 5G has improved their digital experiences amid the network’s continuing rollout across the UK. As access expands and adoption deepens, these perceptions may continue to evolve.

Methodology: 

YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data through rolling surveys, rather than a single limited questionnaire. Figures are drawn from responses collected between November 2024 and November 2025, using a 52-week dataset updated weekly. Data is nationally representative of adults (18+) in Great Britain and weighted by age, gender, region, education, and social grade.

Photo by James Yarema on Unsplash

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