Covid-19 impact: consumers tighten belts but go big on home entertainment

The acceleration of Covid-19 from a virus localised in China to a global pandemic has been exceptionally rapid. Reported cases have now surpassed 1 million, driven by community transmission that has shifted west to Europe and now the US. The effects on national healthcare systems, economic activity and day-to-day living have been profound.

The resulting widespread shift in working patterns and increased demand for home entertainment have thrust communications and the resiliency of telecoms networks to the fore. In recognition of the vast number of people and organisations that drive or depend on such networks, our latest series of Insight Spotlights examines the implications of Covid-19 across the telecoms, media and technology sector.

In this analysis, we focus on how consumer behaviour will change in response to the pandemic, including the smartphones that people buy and the digital entertainment services they use. We also consider how the digital consumer industries will need to adjust and adapt.