What do Britons love? On the basis of a new study by government watchdog Ofcom, it’s definitely communication technology – mobile phones and broadband.
Ofcom’s annual report reveals that while food remains the biggest priority, it’s closely followed by spending on mobile phone, the Internet, and TV. While 40% of respondents said they’d be willing to cut back on dining out and vacations, only 19% would cut back on mobile phone spending, 16% on cable or satellite television subscriptions, and 10% on broadband services.
Ofcom’s Peter Phillips told the BBC:
"Despite the recession, people are spending more time watching TV, using their mobile phone or accessing the internet.”
"They would rather do without meals out or holidays than give up their phone, broadband or pay TV package.”
"Meanwhile, we are becoming more canny about the way we pay for these services.”
"Almost half of us economize by taking a bundle of communications services from a single supplier, while one-fifth opt for cheaper mobile contracts which don’t include an expensive new phone."
And what do Britons do online? Well, 50% all of UK Internet users – some 19 million people – visit Facebook, and spend an average six hours a month there. They spend an average of 25 minutes a day online (that’s up from nine minutes just five years ago), with broadband in 68% of households. In May this year there were over 250,000 new mobile broadband connections, compared to 139,000 last May.
