The UK's major mobile phone networks have seen a huge surge in usage this week, as the east of the country was blanketed by snowfall. The Federation of Small Businesses reports that around a fifth of employees in Britain (6.4 million people) failed to make it into work on Monday February 2, prompting many people to make phone calls or send text messages that they might not usually have made. For instance, more than half a million text messages were sent between 8am and 8.05am on Monday, as commuters realised the journey to work would be impassable. T-Mobile recorded a 73 per cent rise in phone calls, compared to a typical Monday, while Vodafone saw a 58 per cent jump in the usual number of texts sent. What's more, 3 saw the number of picture messages sent by its customers soar, as people shared photos of the snow-covered conditions with friends, posted images to social networking sites or sent pictures to well-known media outlets, like the BBC. Rival network Orange also stated that mobile broadband usage was up on Monday, as people who were forced to work remotely from their office logged onto laptops for internet access. Estimates suggest that the widespread absence caused by the extreme weather could cost businesses in the UK up to £1.2 billion a day. Nevertheless, mobile phone networks have been reaping the benefits, as people took advantage of new mobile technology to get in touch with colleagues, friends and family. |
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