Opcom-报告：移动的重要性（英文）-2020.10-29页_3mb

Summary of "Mobile Matters" Report

Core Content

This report by Ofcom analyzes the usage and performance of Android mobile services in the UK from January to April 2020, with a focus on the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown. It examines how people connect to different wireless technologies (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, WiFi), the reliability of data connections, response times, and usage patterns, including variations by location, time of day, and network operator.

Main Findings

Network Share

• Wi-Fi Usage: Two-thirds (65%) of the time, users were connected to Wi-Fi rather than a cellular network.
  • Urban areas showed slightly higher Wi-Fi usage (66%) compared to rural areas (64%).
  • Wi-Fi usage increased to just under 75% (post-lockdown) as people stayed at home.
• Mobile Network Usage:
  • 4G was the most common mobile network used (81% of the time).
  • 3G was used less frequently, with users on Three spending more time on 3G than others.
  • 5G usage was minimal, with only 0.1% of users having 5G-enabled devices, and most usage concentrated in urban areas.

Network Performance

• Data Connection Success Rate:
  • 4G had a success rate of 97.3%, while 3G had a lower success rate of 94%.
  • No significant differences in success rates were observed between operators for 4G, but Three had better 3G success rates.
• Response Times:
  • Wi-Fi response times were significantly faster than 4G (half the time).
  • 3G response times were higher in rural areas (64ms) than urban areas (58ms).
  • 5G connections were faster than 4G (37ms vs. 44ms) and had a success rate of 97.4%, slightly better than 4G.

Usage Patterns

• Data Use:
  • During the working day, data use was split between mobile and Wi-Fi, with Wi-Fi dominating.
  • Post-lockdown, Wi-Fi use remained high throughout the day, with only minor fluctuations.
• Mobile Calls:
  • The average call duration increased by almost two minutes during lockdown.
  • The proportion of calls lasting longer than 20 minutes doubled, from 3% to 6%, likely due to increased personal and remote communication.

Lockdown Impact

• Urban Areas:
  • Mobile activity in capital cities decreased significantly, especially in central areas.
  • Wi-Fi usage increased in residential areas as people worked from home.
• Suburban and Open Spaces:
  • There was increased mobile activity in suburban and open spaces, possibly due to more local movement and outdoor activities.

Key Notes

• The report uses data from around 200,000 Android devices, collected every 15 minutes.
• Year-on-year comparisons for some metrics were not possible due to changes in the panel.
• Some days in March were excluded due to temporary network congestion between operators.
• The data does not measure overall network coverage, but rather the success of connections when coverage is available.
• The analysis is conducted at the MNO level, which may include data from MVNOs like Tesco Mobile and Virgin Mobile.
• Factors like price, customer service, and contract terms are not analyzed in this report but are noted as relevant considerations for users.

Additional Insights

• 5G usage was limited to a small group of users and primarily in urban centers.
• The report highlights the importance of network management strategies, as some operators reverted users to 3G in congested areas to improve reliability.
• The data provides a detailed look at how network performance varies by time, location, and operator, with interactive maps available for deeper analysis.