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Half of mobile phone owners have never changed their network, according to new research. Whether it’s a decent deal, the hassle of changing, or just plain bone-idleness, it seems we’re happy to stick with our network through thick and thin.
YouGov surveyed 944 UK adults and found 49 per cent have been loyal to their network their whole phone-owning lives, while two thirds have been with their network for more than three years.
Older folks are more likely to stay entrenched, with 78 per cent of over-55s having been with the same network for more than three years.
It seems even in these dizzying days of new phones and new deals flying around we’re a pretty settled bunch, with just one in ten mobile owners considering decamping to a different network when their current contract runs out.
That’s bad news for the networks in the most disrupted time for the phone market. The coming of 4G marks the biggest potential shake-up of the industry for years, with the next-generation technology providing a major way for networks to differentiate themselves rather than trying to compete on tightly-squeezed prices and fripperies like ticket bookings or music services.
Men aged 25-39 are the most likely to jump ship. The biggest motivation for two thirds of people looking to make a change is to save money, with a choice of different phone a distant second.
Are you planning to switch networks, and if so, why? If you’ve stayed true to your network for a while, what’s stopping you from changing — loyalty, lethargy, a good deal — or you just can’t be be bothered with the hassle? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or switch to our Facebook page.
