There are so many competing wifi networks in residential areas and city centres in the Netherlands that at least 50% of users say they have problems using the internet, according to research by the governent’s telecoms agency.

The agency, which is part of the economic affairs ministry, carried out readings at 180 different locations and found that the most commonly used 2.4 GHz frequency is now ‘becoming full’.

In some areas, up to 40 wifi networks are competing for bandwidth. This is leading to problems with downloading, Skype conversations and speed.

A household with two or more people can easily have 10 or more pieces of equipment using the network when mobile phones, computers, televisions, printers and remote controls are taken into account, the agency said.

Shifting more people to the 5 GHz wifi band would improve the quality of internet connections considerably, the agency said.