Brits make almost 1,000 connections a month

The average adult will make 992 connections per month – via the likes of messages, phone calls, and emails. A poll of 2,000 people found that during the typical month, 262 messages are sent, 152 phone calls are made, and 149 emails are exchanged. This equates to 30 hours spent communicating with friends and family – with WhatsApp (58 percent), phone calls (48 percent), and SMS (28 percent) the most popular ways of connecting. Best friends are most likely to be on the receiving end (36 percent), followed closely by partners (33 percent) and parents (22 percent). The study, commissioned by Vodafone to explore the importance of connectivity across the UK, comes as the brand unveils ‘The Connected Skyline’ – a pop-up installation on London’s South Bank – to celebrate being named ‘London’s Best Network’ by European testing company, NET CHECK. The piece was created by Brixton-based artist and sculptor, Alex Wright (AKA ‘Wreckage’), who has been making art from waste materials for more than 35 years. He said: ‘Having lived in London for 17 years, I feel very connected to the city, so getting to work on this project for Vodafone with my talented team, and re-imagine some of the city’s most iconic landmarks using recycled tech, has been a lot of fun. ‘To re-create this iconic skyline, celebrating connectivity, I got to handpick recycled materials of all shapes and sizes, from network equipment to SIMs and devices, taking influence from the original designs, and breathing new life into them as the skyline took shape.’ Alex and his team carefully crafted the structure over 19 days, from nearly a tonne of recycled tech, network equipment, and SIMs. The 20ft long, 10ft high, and 4ft deep construction features London’s most iconic landmarks, including The Shard, Big Ben, and the recently renovated Battersea Power Station. Vodafone unveils ‘The Connected Skyline’ to celebrate being named as London’s Best Network (Image: PinPep) Max Taylor, chief commercial officer at Vodafone, said: ‘We know how important it is to stay connected to those closest to us, and we are committed to providing our customers with the very best service across the capital and beyond. ‘We are incredibly proud to have been recognised as London’s Best Network, and we’re excited to unveil this unique installation in London to celebrate.’ The study also found the top reasons for Brits getting in touch with one another include ‘checking in to say hi’ (45 percent), sharing life updates (30 percent), and arranging meet-ups (28 percent). Looking beyond a strong mobile connection, the study also found 54 percent of those polled, via OnePoll.com, want to feel connected to their hometown. Access to local restaurants or cafes (31 percent), events (30 percent), independent shops (25 percent), and cultural happenings (20 percent), are among the things that make Brits feel most connected to their local area. London was considered the most connected city, followed closely by Manchester and Liverpool. ‘The Connected Skyline’ will be available to view at the Observation Point on London’s South Bank, for one day only, on August 24.