Mobile UK Welcomes The Government's Digital Inclusion Action Plan
Today, the UK Government has announced the publication of its Digital Inclusion Action Plan as part of its strategy to promote and embed digital inclusion.
Mobile UK and the wider mobile industry welcome Government's commitment to digital inclusion and the Digital Inclusion Action Plan that has been put forward. This is a significant step towards a much-needed wider national strategy ensuring that everyone in the UK can benefit from digital technologies. However, it is crucial to emphasise that government investment alongside that of the industry is necessary to bridge the digital divide and support inclusivity.
Commenting on the recent announcement, our Director of Policy and Communications Gareth Elliott has said:
"Mobile UK support the Government's Digital Inclusion Action Plan and its goals. We welcome its acknowledgement of the industry's ongoing role and contributions, and we are ready to partner actively to help address this challenge.
“However, this plan requires government leadership, and it's important to ensure a balanced approach, recognising that an over-reliance on industry for implementation and funding also has ramifications for the wider investment needed for robust and rapid mobile infrastructure deployment."
To outline some of the ongoing work being undertaken by our member operators to support customer nationwide, take a look at our digital inclusion infographic here.
The Government's Digital Inclusion Action Plan can be found here.
Industry pledges
BT
Connectivity:
- BT has already connected over 300,000 digitally excluded households through its social tariffs, which also include a lower £15 tariff for ‘zero income’ households, and will continue to offer these tariffs to millions of people on Universal Credit who are eligible for them.
Community WiFi:
- BT Group has the country’s largest public WiFi network, with some 5.5 million EE and BT hub locations (in households and commercial premises) available for eligible customers to connect to. BT and EE have agreed to pilot 2 new approaches to extend the use of this network to a much larger number of digitally excluded households:
- by providing log-ins for free WiFi to eligible families through charity and public sector partnerships
- by providing community WiFi services, free at the point of use, at a much larger number of libraries and community centres, including working with government to identify and prioritise connections to 500 community hubs in deprived areas
- To succeed, this initiative will need support from local partners, which the pilot phase of the project will seek to ensure.
Skills:
- BT commits to providing digital training to thousands of older people and children in 2025, through their partnership with AbilityNet and their Work Ready programme.
- BT commits to providing 500 adults with disabilities with digital devices, data and support in 2025, through their partnership with Keyring.
Three
- To support those facing digital exclusion, Three will donate over 2 million GB of data to an estimated 80,000 people by 2026.
- To help bridge the digital divide, Three’s Discovery digital-skills training programme seeks to reach over 270,000 people by 2030.
- Through the Reconnected scheme, Three aims to save around 30,000 unused devices to help disadvantaged people get connected.
Virgin Media O2
Virgin Media O2 has already connected over 350,000 digitally excluded people. It is committing to increasing this to 1 million people by the end of 2025, through expanded provision of data and devices to those that need it.
Vodafone
Vodafone will help 1 million people cross the digital divide in 2025 through donating connectivity and technology, affordable services, and upskilling communities. This includes a commitment to maintain their social tariff product offerings. To support closing the digital infrastructure divide, Vodafone will continue to invest in rolling out their network to the whole of the UK.
Industry Comments
Nicola Green, Chief Communications and Corporate Affairs Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:
We welcome the government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan and its leadership to drive digital inclusion across the UK.
I’m proud that Virgin Media O2 is recognised in the Action Plan, having already connected more than 350,000 digitally excluded people through our pioneering programmes, such as the National Databank and Community Calling, which have provided devices, data, and digital skills to help people access essential online services - from applying for work, booking medical appointments, accessing training courses and keeping in touch with loved ones.
We look forward to working with government to further tackle digital exclusion so more people can access the internet and transform their lives.
Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer at Vodafone UK, said:
Vodafone has long been an advocate of greater digital inclusion across society. During our time working in this space, we have learnt that the scale of our progress is directly linked to the success of our partnerships. Which is why we are delighted to be joining forces with Good Things Foundation, Deloitte and the UK government.
Through the Digital Inclusion Action plan, we are establishing a common set of principles for businesses and organisations to commit to when it comes to responsible device donation. Not only will this help increase the number of devices donated to those who are digitally excluded, but it will also help reduce electronic waste and promote circularity. All while laddering up to Vodafone’s pledge to help 1 million people cross the digital divide by 2025, as part of a wider 4 million target through our everyone.connected programme.
