Communications Affordability Tracker

Overview

The Communications Affordability Tracker tracks the affordability of communication services among UK adults. It has been conducted via a CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview) survey since June 2020, with c.1,000 interviews with UK adults aged 18+ conducted each wave. From its inception, it has moved from being conducted monthly, to bi-monthly, to quarterly, and now we will conduct it every six months. The tracker identifies those who are either the sole or joint decision-maker for communications services in their household and/or those who personally use a mobile phone. Quotas are set on age, gender, working status and geographical region. The sample also includes a Northern Ireland boost, which is subsequently down weighted in the UK representative results. This provides us with continued understanding of consumer affordability issues in the UK communications markets (covering mobile, landline, fixed broadband, pay-TV, and on-demand TV services). The study is designed to report on affordability at an overall level, and by services. The services included are landline, mobile phone, fixed broadband, Pay TV and SVoD. Since April 2023, consumers awareness of broadband and mobile social tariffs has also been measured on the Communications Affordability Tracker. The Communications Affordability Tracker is our main source of evidence about consumer awareness on this topic. Objectives: - To track the affordability of communication and media services among UK adults - To track the awareness of broadband and mobile social tariffs