Faster internet will change where we choose to live, says Orange

13:52 27th August 2009

The introduction of a faster broadband network will see people move out of cities, mobile phone company Orange has claimed.

According to its Connected Britain report, people will migrate to the countryside, leaving major cities' populations reduced by up to 80 per cent.

Conducted by YouGov, the report suggested firms could make significant savings of up to £31.8 billion by encouraging home working.

Should its predictions be accurate, workers who have been made redundant and are now retraining for IT careers could find their next job is based at home.

"Setting up an employee to work from home needn't involve significant investment, just the willingness to give them the tools they need to get the job done," says Robert Ainger, director of corporate marketing for Orange.

Learning new skills on IT courses should also be made easier thanks to the government's commitment to providing improved broadband access for all by 2012. ADNFCR-1667-ID-19334481-ADNFCR