Smartphone users spending more time on Wi-Fi across top 50 US metros

Smartphone users in all of the top 50 US markets spent increasing amounts of time connected to Wi-Fi during the end of March, according to new Opensignal data, aligning with behavioral shifts at a time when states across the country ramped their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Opensignal’s analysis noted that users typically spend more time on Wi-Fi during the weekend and on public holidays, meaning it’s a good indicator of more time at home. By the third week of March, starting March 16, Opensignal observed a significant week-on-week increase in the percentage of time smartphone users were connected to Wi-Fi across all the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) based on population. Increases above the median average that week ranged between 5% and 20%. In the fourth week of March, at which point 21 statewide stay at home orders had been issued across the country, percentage of smartphone time spent on Wi-Fi again jumped significantly in 36 of the top 50 MSAs and remained elevated in the others. Increases ranged from 10% to more than 30% above the median average.