Brits Spending On Comms Down

The annual British review says Britons are spending more time on communications services but paying less for them.

Every year British government watchdog Ofcom issues its communications review. The new issues offers a snapshot of how the typical British family enjoys itself and stays in touch – and how much they pay for it.

For 2007, people spent an average of seven hours and nine minutes each day watching TV, online, on the phone or using other services, the BBC reports. And the cost? Right around $187 a month for all those services, which is a fall of $3 over 2006, and the third year in a row to have seen a drop in prices.

Since 2002 computer use had increased fourfold, while mobile use has doubled. Watching TV remains the most popular pastime, with people spending an average of three hours and 38 minutes a day in front of the tube. That much more time than on other services – last year the average was 24 minutes on the computer and just 10 minutes a day using a cell phone.

Lower broadband prices would appear to be the reason behind decreased monthly costs – the average price is now $18.90 a month for a broadband connection – which is now in 57 percent of homes, compared to 52 percent in 2006 – and there’s been a large surge in mobile broadband, which has been pushed by companies.

With British comms industries revenues now topping $100 billion a year, it’s an important part of the economy, and may become more so during the economic downturn as people stay home more rather than going out for entertainment.