On 24 December 2018, Czechs made 15,640,271 phone calls and sent 21,509,897 text and 565,193 multimedia messages in the T-Mobile network. As compared with Christmas Eve 2017, data traffic increased by 109%. People used data services the most in the evening between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m., after the distribution of Christmas presents. Most calls were made in the morning between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. (noon), before they began to finish the preparations of Christmas Eve celebrations. The number of sent text and multimedia messages increased significantly during Christmas Eve as compared with an ordinary day, by 226% and 468% respectively.
The sending of season’s greetings ended and traffic reduced substantially between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. According to the survey, this is the time when the Czech Republic sits down at the Christmas Eve table (three-quarters of Czech families start dinner on Christmas Eve between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.). Eighty-nine percent of people do not use mobile phones at the table – they simply mute them, do not check them or even turn them off. The same applies to children: the vast majority of children who have their own mobile phone must follow clear rules, either the same applying to an ordinary dinner or even stricter. After dinner was over, people did not continue with intensive communication – after Christmas presents are distributed and the traditional TV children’s story is turned on, everybody enjoys the time with their loved ones. Note: Christmas Eve traffic is shown in the graphs at the end of the press release.
Legend: What do people do with their mobile phones during Christmas Eve dinner? I don’t use it, just as I don’t use it during an ordinary dinner I use it less than on any other day – e.g., I mute it, don’t check it, etc. As compared with other dinners, I turn the phone off completely I use is in the same way as I use it during an ordinary dinner I use it more than on any other day – e.g., for taking photos, reading/writing greetings, etc.
64% of the population use or don’t use mobile phones in the same way as during any other dinners But 34% reduce their use (12% turn them off completely) 2% use them more
Children and mobile phones during Christmas Eve dinner Children in the household No children – 30; Under 6 – 20, 6-10 years old – 11; 11-14 years old – 11; 14-17 years old – 7; Over 18 – 39
Rules for using mobile phones during Christmas Eve dinner applying to children The same as with any other dinner We are stricter than on any other occasion and they must reduce their use We are stricter than on any other occasion and phones must not be brought to the dinner table We are more lenient and they may use it more They don’t have their own mobile phone
And how did people express their greetings? The survey has shown that people want to be more in personal contact during Christmas. If they cannot meet, they most want that their family and friends call them. This form of expressing Christmas greetings is popular with 67% of people. Similarly, people prefer personal text messages (59%) or personal e-mails (52%). Naturally, the fact that Christmas cards sent by post will please their recipients still holds true – 56% of people would be very pleased to receive one. Conversely, people are not great fans of mass text messages and e-mails: such form of expressing greetings is viewed outright negatively for 25% and 22% of respondents, respectively. “People simply prefer personal greetings to mass messages. This applies both to Christmas Eve and New Year’s greetings. It is worthwhile to make the effort and write a few words so that your loved ones know that you sent the greetings to them specifically and that you thought of them,” explains Martina Kemrová, Senior Head of Communication at T-Mobile Czech Republic.
The survey was conducted for T-Mobile by Kantar TNS in October 2018 on a sample of 766 respondents.