According to a recent Deloitte survey of approximately 2,000 U.S. consumers, post-pandemic tech adoption has created a “digital-first” lifestyle as people across generations adapt to life in a virtually connected world. 

Image by Ronald Candonga

Over the past year, 15% of consumers upgraded their home internet services to achieve higher speeds, as reported in “Mastering the new digital life: 2022 Connectivity and Mobile Trends,” a newly issued survey by the Deloitte Center for Technology, Media & Telecommunications. 

Much of the past 2+ years saw tech adopters young and old reach for newer, faster, speedier devices to access the most stable connections possible while fulfilling basic and everyday needs, including work from home, remote learning and streaming entertainment.

In further confirmation of consumers’ demand for stable, reliable internet connections capable of handling multiple video streams at once, 44% of consumers surveyed purchased “signal boosters,” such as Wi-Fi extenders and mesh network equipment to increase coverage throughout their homes. 

Although a vast majority of these consumers (87%) reported that their new equipment improved Wi-Fi performance, these findings make it abundantly clear that Americans’ demands for best-in-class home internet and Wi-Fi experiences — and the unlicensed spectrum it runs on — remain robust, with no signs of slowing down.

With the demand for widespread connectivity increasing, we must prioritize a balanced spectrum policy that incentivizes innovation, keeps up with Americans’ connectivity needs and ensures the U.S. maintains its leadership globally.