Irish telecoms provider, Pure Telecom, have today released new research which shows half of people claiming they couldn’t survive without broadband or internet this Christmas.
 
Furthermore, 86% of people said they will purchase at least one present online, while the average person expects to buy six presents online. In total, Irish shoppers will spend €852 million online this festive season, averaging €247 per person.
 
The survey also found that women are more likely to say they couldn’t survive Christmas without broadband, with 52% claiming Christmas would be a disaster without it, compared to 48% of men.
 
More than one in five (21%) will rely on the internet to watch their festive flicks, with 14% saying they will use a streaming service such as Netflix, while 7% will download their movies from the likes of Apple or Amazon.
 
Pure Telecom found that almost half (48%) of people expect that there will be at least one internet-connected device under their tree this Christmas. One third expect their households to be unwrapping one or two internet-connected devices on the 25th, while a sizeable 15% expect that figure will reach three or more. Almost one third (32%) of parents said they will be give at least one of their children an internet-connected device for Christmas.
 
Director of Pure Telecom, Paul Connell said, "Gone are the days when people thought Christmas Day would be a disaster without batteries.

"Now, it’s broadband that households are finding is essential to their Christmas plans. From the gifts they will give and receive, to watching their favourite movies, high-speed broadband is crucial to many of the major aspects of Christmas."

Source: www.businessworld.ie