Lockdowns in the UK have resulted in reduced mobile data usage, leaving customers with a combined 165 million GB of unused quota, according to uSwitch research. The coronavirus pandemic has increased the importance of mobile and broadband services in society as people rely on connectivity for work, communication and entertainment. However, movement restrictions mean that most of this data traffic is handled by home Wi-Fi rather than mobile networks.
Data excess
The result is a temporary reversal of average mobile data volumes, which have always been on an upward trajectory. uSwitch says the average cell phone user consumes 500MB less on lock, contributing to a 21% drop from the average to 1.9GB per month. "We've set up mobile plans to support browsing on the go, but since many of us are homebound and rely on Wi-Fi to stay connected, we just don't burn through our data allowances," Ru said. Bhihka, mobile expert at uSwitch. Two-fifths of mobile customers would like to see their unused allowance carried over to the next month, a service offered by some operators such as Sky, while 22% said they would like a refund. Eight percent would like the matching cost to be donated to charity, while 11 percent would prefer their surplus to be donated to essential workers. Consumption among essential workers increased by 100MB during the pandemic, with mobile operators taking steps to ensure everyone stays connected. Special rates are being offered for key workers, along with zero-rating access to essential health resources, while it has also pledged not to disconnect anyone during the crisis.