Survey: Many experience challenges with internet connections at home

The Digital Life survey shows that nearly two out of five Finns (37%) wish their home internet connection performed better. The desire for a better connection is particularly pronounced among 15–24-year-olds, 25–34-year-olds, and families with children.

Around one in five respondents (21%) also report having experienced difficulties with their internet. These challenges have mainly been related to connection speed and weak performance. Attempts to resolve these issues have included contacting the service provider and restarting the modem. Some respondents have also switched providers or repositioned their modem so that its signal reaches devices more effectively, for example, by raising it off the floor. About 22% of those who experienced problems report having purchased a new modem.

“A WiFi router typically covers an apartment of around 70 square meters when placed smartly in an open location. In a two-room apartment in a block of flats, the device can be placed, for example, on top of a cabinet between rooms. If the modem is hidden in an electrical cabinet with other cables, the signal is significantly weakened, which also reduces connection quality,” says Jussi Lahdenperä, Vice President of DNA's Consumer Broadband Business.

According to Lahdenperä, the cause of intermittent home internet is typically related to the placement of the terminal device or the device itself.

“An old modem or WiFi access point does not support high-speed connections and can become a bottleneck. Modern devices, however, can automatically select the best-performing frequency, which improves connection quality,” Lahdenperä continues.

Although a poorly functioning internet connection can be frustrating, the greater risks are related to information security. An outdated and unprotected terminal device can, in the worst case, be hacked and used as part of malicious network activity without the user’s knowledge.

Information security risks often remain invisible, which is why they may go unnoticed. From a security perspective, the most important factor is whether the device still receives regular updates and whether they are installed correctly. If a terminal device is several years old, updates may no longer be available.

“It is understandable that replacing a network terminal device may not come to mind if the internet works well enough. That’s why we have wanted to offer our customers the DNA Vaivaton service, which makes acquiring network devices easier and more flexible. With the DNA Vaivaton service, customers can use a device for a monthly fee without a one-time investment or device-related concerns. We take care of the device and its currency throughout its lifecycle and replace it with a new one in due time,” says Lahdenperä.

“Seventeen percent of respondents to our Digital Life survey say they are interested in a smart device or other terminal device as a service. In the device-as-a-service model, the customer pays a monthly fee for the device they use but does not own it. With DNA Vaivaton, the device remains updated, security stays current, and at the end of its lifecycle the device does not end up unused at the customer’s home but is properly recycled. The service brings flexibility to customers’ daily lives, for example, if their circumstances change due to moving, the device can be replaced if necessary, and the old one will be recycled by DNA. This way, no extra costs are incurred for the customer,” Lahdenperä summarizes.

The DNA Vaivaton service has been available for WiFi 7 routers since the end of May, and from July onwards the service will also expand to 5G routers.

The aim of DNA’s Digital Life survey (in Finnish only) is to increase understanding of Finns’ digital lives. The survey has been conducted annually since 2013, targeting all Finns aged 15 and over. This year’s study was carried out in Norstat’s online panel between 20–27 April 2026, with just over 1,000 Finnish respondents.

Media Inquiries:

DNA Corporate Communications, tel. +358 44 044 8000, communications@dna.fi