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Ofcom Study Shows Consumers Consider Mobile, Internet 'Essential'(Alliance News Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) LONDON (Alliance News) - A report from UK telecoms regulator Ofcom shows that consumers consider the internet, and mobile phones to be "essential" to daily living. Ofcom's study examined which services consumers consider to be essential and whether or not they are affordable, particularly for "the most vulnerable in society" as part of on-going efforts to make sure consumers are getting value from their communication services. It found that 61% of consumers considered voice services, including mobile or landline, as essential, 59% considered mobile voice or text services essential, and 57% considered personal internet access essential. The study also showed different priorities amongst different age groups, with landline services being considered essential by 61% of 75-year-olds and over, compared to 12% of 16 to 24-year-olds. On the other hand, 53% of the younger age group considered online access on their smartphone to be essential, but no one aged 75 and over. 86% of the consumers responsible for paying for them said they never had difficulties meeting the costs of these essential services. Of those who did have difficulties, three quarters said they had been careful about spending whilst managing communications costs, just under half cut back on luxuries, and around a third opt for cheaper goods or services. Only 26% of consumers on income support knew about social landline tariffs offered by BT Group PLC and KCOM Group PLC. 95% of households have at least one mobile phone, 84% have a landline and 82% have an internet connection, Ofcom said, showing that cost is not a barrier to use for most. However, for low income households, cost can be a reason not to have a service, particularly broadband. 7% of consumers said they would like to have broadband, but couldn't because of the cost. "While it’s encouraging that the majority of people don’t experience difficulties paying for their communications services, it’s important that help is available for those who do," said Ofcom's Consumer Group Director Claudio Pollack in a statement. "We’re working to ensure that all consumers can benefit from the communications services which are most important for modern life." Ofcom plans to work on improving links between debt charities and communication providers, and improve awareness of the most affordable deals. Additionally, it will report yearly on the prevalence of debt and cost as barriers to participation, improving the switching process, and examining if there are any particular barriers to switching for low-income consumers. Copyright 2014 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. |