Virgin Media O2 Supports those in Digital Poverty
The phrase ‘digital poverty’ might feel like a synonym for ‘First World Problems’, but barriers to digital tools are potentially life-threatening.
Research from Ofcom showed that 2.6mn UK households find it difficult to afford their mobile phone service. This prevents them from contacting family members or friends in a crisis, as well as work colleagues. When those in digital poverty are cut off from the world, they are unable to access educational tools, healthcare apps, helplines or legal documents. Paying bills and ordering medicine have become tasks quickly completed from a mobile phone, but this is not yet available to everyone, something Virgin Media O2 wants to change.
Now, the company has launched a new mobile plan to help people on low incomes to stay connected: The O2 Essential Plan.
Empowering the digitally excluded with affordable connectivity
VMO2 was formed in 2021 with the merging of Virgin Media and O2, two of the UK’s leaders in telecommunications.
The O2 Essential Plan forms part of Virgin Media O2’s ambition to strengthen digital inclusion in the UK, with a goal to connect over one million digitally excluded people through free and affordable connectivity and services.
The plan is on offer to those who receive benefit payments and comes with 10GB of mobile data, plus unlimited calls and texts for £10 per month.
It is available for new customers, as well as existing ones. The plan can be taken as a 30-day rolling contract, has no activation or exit fees and no price changes while customers receive benefit payments.
In a previous interview with Mark Burton, Health & Social Care Lead at Virgin Media O2 Business, he told us about Virgin Media O2 Business’ membership of the Digital Poverty Alliance, which works to end digital poverty by 2030.
“Our research found that 48% of healthcare professionals recognise the need to provide more support to patients when it comes to adopting new digital tools,” he said. “Our partnership with CCS allows us to provide support to the public sector entities which are working with communities to enhance their digital literacy.”
Virgin Media O2 has also committed to partner with Supporting Children with Diabetes to donate recycled smartphones to help children of low income families access technology to monitor their blood glucose levels.
Virgin Media O2 also founded the National Databank, in partnership with digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation. Similar to a food bank, The National Databank provides free O2 mobile data, texts and calls to people in need.
Anyone in need can get 25GB of free O2 mobile data per month for up to 12 months through the National Databank’s network of thousands of National Databank Hubs nationwide – including O2 retail stores.
Finally, the Talk Protected Plan keeps prices fixed for its elderly and disabled landline-only customers.
Virgin Media O2's commitment to affordable connectivity for low-income households
Christian Hindennach, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Media O2, said he was proud to offer a range of comprehensive measures to help people on low incomes to get online and stay in touch with loved ones.
“While we know mobile connectivity in the UK is already very affordable, the launch of the O2 Essential Plan builds on our wide range of existing support for people experiencing financial difficulties,” he said. “This includes our broadband plan for people receiving support payments, the National Databank providing free mobile data for people in need and our Community Calling scheme which rehomes smartphones with people who need them.”
Virgin Media O2 Business’ Sandeep Raithatha is a telco innovator with a passion for problem-solving. In a recent interview with us, he explored IoT and connectivity.
Read it here.
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