Berkshire Digital Infrastructure Group (DIG): Residents' Survey 2025

Connected Berkshire: Now. Tomorrow. Beyond.

Consultation status Results published

Start date: 2025-03-05

End date: 2025-04-30

Results 2025-05-01

Category:

Ward:

Activity closed. Results published.

Background

The Digital Infrastructure Group (DIG), comprising all six Berkshire local authorities (Bracknell Forest Council, Reading Borough Council, Slough Borough Council, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, West Berkshire Council and Wokingham Borough Council) and the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), are implementing a Digital Strategy that will work with market providers and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport's Barrier Busting Team to minimise barriers to Digital Infrastructure investments to reduce rollout costs and delays, leading to further investment into the county.

The aim is to create a joined-up approach to the challenges faced by current infrastructure restrictions, and to make sure that businesses and residents can continue to connect with people across all platforms.

You can find out more about what we're doing by following us on Facebook, Instagram: @BerksDIG, Twitter: @BerksDIG, visiting our webpage or search the hashtag #ConnectedBerkshire

Why we want your views

We're working with DIG and the councils (Bracknell Forest, Reading, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough and Wokingham) to improve the digital infrastructure across Berkshire.

We want to hear from residents to help us better understand what they know about the current digital infrastructure, and if they know about projects to improve the quality and speed of broadband and mobile data. We're also interested in how and what these services are used for, how residents feel about using WiFi whilst out and about, and challenges faced at home or at work.

We'd also like to hear from people that aren't online to better understand what barriers, if anything, are stopping them from getting connected. This could be access to a connection or a device, needing new skills or just having a bit more confidence to try.

How to take part

Our survey closed at midnight on Wednesday, 30 April 2025.

If you have any questions about the survey, please get in touch with us at contactus@BerksDIG.org.uK

To find out more about the Digital Infrastructure Group, please visit our website here. You can also follow our social media channels listed above to keep up to date and follow our journey.

What you told us

We received and analysed over 1,600 responses, and have compiled a list of headline results that can be found on the DIG website. Further information will be shared and new initiatives will be shaped from these responses.

You can view/download a summary of the analysis here, which includes headlines for both online use and for those that do not do things online.

What we did

The next steps will be for individual local authorities to look at how they can improve digital infrastructure, digital skill and enhance any digital inclusion offerings for residents. Thank you once again to those that took part.