With the cost-of-living crisis deepening and around two million UK households at risk of digital exclusion, Virgin Media O2 is helping more people in need access free mobile data by piloting the National Databank for the first time on the High Street via 10 O2 stores across the UK.
The National Databank, founded by Virgin Media O2 and digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation, is like a foodbank but for free mobile data, texts, and calls. Virgin Media O2 has committed more than 61 million GB of free O2 data to the initiative by the end of 2025.
People can now access the National Databank directly on the High Street via O2 stores and get 20GB of free O2 data per month for up to six months - enough for around 220 hours of internet browsing per month - so they can get online and stay in touch with loved ones.
The O2 stores taking part in the pilot are in towns and cities where the free data will help those most in need. This includes communities where people are most likely to be digitally excluded or places where people have not been able to access the National Databank in their area before.
The O2 stores taking part in the pilot are in Ballymena, Broadstairs (Thanet Westwood Cross) Colchester, Hastings, Hull (Jameson Street), Norwich, Newport, Perth, Plymouth, and Stockton-on-Tees (Teesside Retail Park).
Those eligible can get support by going to one of the participating stores and asking an O2 employee, who has been trained to use the National Databank’s platform, for a 20GB data voucher.
The National Databank can also be accessed via a network of more than 650 participating community partners nationwide.
On top of this, Virgin Media O2 is also providing an additional 1 million GB of free O2 data to help even more people stay connected this Christmas.
Special ‘O2 Christmas SIM Cards’ are available in O2 stores nationwide and online, while stocks last, helping those who need it access 7GB of free O2 data.
The ‘O2 Christmas SIM Card’ can also be gifted to anyone who needs it, and they can get a free O2 SIM card if they need one, to ensure they can use the data and get online.
Gareth Turpin, Chief Commercial at Virgin Media O2, said: “We’re stepping up our support during the cost-of-living crisis to help even more people stay connected this Christmas.
“It’s now going to be easier than ever for those in need to access the National Databank directly on the High Street via our O2 stores, so they can get online and connect to essential services - from medical appointments to applying for jobs.
“And with our additional 1 million GB of free data available via special Christmas SIM Cards, Virgin Media O2 is helping more people get the data they need, so they can stay in touch with loved ones over the festive period.”
To help raise awareness of these measures, O2’s Christmas campaign for 2022 brings to life the support that is available to keep people connected over the festive period with an animated TV advert, ‘The Snowgran’, which combines the spirit of the festive season with the power of connectivity.
Helen Milner OBE, Group Chief Executive, Good Things Foundation, said: “Having sufficient data in our increasingly digital society is not a nice to have, it’s an absolute essential. If you’re not online you can’t save money on products and services, help your children to participate in home-learning, and apply for jobs.
“With two million households struggling to afford internet access in the UK today - and 10 million adults lacking the most basic digital skills, everyone needs to do even more to build a movement for digital inclusion that leaves no-one behind. This underpins our 2022-2025 strategy, making sure we go further to Fix The Digital Divide – for Good.
“This extra support is a perfect example of industry innovation making a huge difference to people's lives, and will mean more practical help is available for those on low incomes to get online and access the endless benefits of digital connectivity.”
These measures build on Virgin Media O2’s £2 million strategic partnership with Good Things Foundation to help disadvantaged people across the UK get online and gain vital digital skills.
The National Databank initiative forms part of Virgin Media O2’s new sustainability strategy, the Better Connections Plan, which aims to create a better, more connected, and greener world for everyone. It is one of the ways the company will reach its goal of connecting one million digitally excluded people through free and affordable connectivity and services by the end of 2025.
