In contrast, London didn’t even make the top 20 digitally inclusive places in broadband comparison company Bionic’s report.
The report also revealed that one in five UK adults lack the most basic digital skills needed for everyday life. Added to that, one in two households in the UK have no internet access at all.
The study took into account each location’s population and size.
Manchester topped the list, having 193 digital inclusion services for a population of 586,100. Coventry was a distant second, with 61 services for 345,300 people, and Bangor took third place with five services for 31,765 people.
Armagh in Northern Ireland came bottom, with no services for its 63,874 residents. Just above it was Ely and St Davids, both of which also had no services, despite having a large population.
“Our study highlights the pivotal role of digital inclusion support in building a more connected society,” said Les Roberts, connectivity expert at Bionic. “The fact that Manchester, Coventry, and Bangor have all emerged as the top three cities for digital inclusion in the UK is undoubtedly thanks to the hard work of local charities and organisations in their areas, showcasing their commitment to bridging the digital divide.”
Roberts said that while it was encouraging to see progress in areas outside of London, the study highlighted the need for digital inclusivity to be extended to every corner of the UK.