Telecommunications Spending High Despite Recession Say Offcom

According to Ofcom research, Britain is showing little indication of slowing its tech spending, despite the ongoing economic downturn. But we are getting wiser in the ways we spend on telecommunications.

From those surveyed, research has found that 47 percent said they would reduce meals out and 41 percent would lower holidays spending, compared to a low 19 percent who would choose to reduce their mobile phone spend, a smaller 10 percent who would actively seek to lower their broadband spend, a lowly 16 percent would cut back on TV subscriptions

Before mobile networks, TV firms and ISPs start celebrating, although most of us say we have no intention of cutting our spending, we have actually cut our spending in real terms.

The reason for this is we are getting better at taking advantage of bundle deals and combining all our outgoings into a single monthly payment that incorporates TV, phone and broadband deals. Bundle deals are seeing a seven percent year-on-year rise.

Peter Phillips, with the full title of Ofcom Partner, Strategy & Market Developments said: \”Despite the recession, people are spending more time watching TV, using their mobile phone or accessing the internet.\” This means despite lower spending we are actually using our telecommunications even more than ever before. This is probably because we see telecommunications as a low cost alternative to more costly forms of entertainment.

\”As well as getting better deals we are demanding more control,\” says Philips \”Over 25 per cent of households now use a digital TV recorder to watch programmes at a time that suits us, and 23 per cent use online catch up services like the BBC iPlayer.\”

Although no figures have been released by Offcom regarding the purchasing of telecommunications hardware, but sales of DEC phones, headsets, handsets and mobile phones remains buoyant despite the current economic downturn says both retailers and distributors.

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