Voice call usage jumps 15-20% after lockdown: Analysts

Mumbai: In the first week of the ongoing nationwide lockdown, Preeti Ghosh, a salesperson from a technology firm, called a college mate, resurrecting ties that had been dormant for over 16 years.

Ghosh is not alone.

Quite a few Indians are checking in on family, friends and colleagues as the lockdown has meant social distancing and work from home for just about everybody.

In fact, there was a 15-20% increase in voice calls through mobile phones, especially in the initial few days of the lockdown that began on March 25, as people reconnected to hear expressions of surprise, joy and concern from loved ones which would otherwise have been through emoticons and or dry text messages.