The report Connecting the Countryside, which has been carried out by WPI Economics on behalf of the operator, claims that close to a million (838,000) people are living in areas that would significantly benefit from access to 5G Standalone.

Currently, the UK’s 5G networks are non-standalone, meaning that the core of the network is largely the same as it was during the days of 4G. With 5G Standalone, the entire network package has been upgraded with 5G-era technology, which should bring higher download and upload speeds. Most 5G in the UK is using non-standalone because it is cheaper and quicker to roll out.

According to Vodafone, Scotland, Wales, East Anglia, Cumbria and the South-West are the worst-performing areas of Britain for connectivity.

Vodafone said it “pledged” to close the digital divide by delivering on the government’s 2030 5G coverage ambitions, which were set out in the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, by providing 95 per cent of the UK...