Good Things Foundation and Virgin Media O2 partner on initiative to tackle data poverty
Melanie May | 11 August 2021 | News
Good Things Foundation has partnered with Virgin Media O2 to tackle data poverty with the launch of National Databank – ‘a food bank for data’.
National Databank will provide free mobile data to those unable to access mobile data or broadband at home. It launches with 7.5 million GB of O2 mobile data aimed at helping over 200,000 people get connected by the end of 2023.
The platform has been created by Virgin Media O2, working closely with Good Things Foundation and other digital inclusion experts including Community Organisers, Operation Wifi, Hubbub and Nominet. It has been given to Good Things Foundation to run through its network of 5,000 community groups.
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The National Databank provides a central hub where community groups can access free ‘data voucher codes’ and SIM cards for anyone who needs them. Those accessing free data will also be offered additional support – including digital skills training and signposting to other essential services.
Virgin Media O2 will donate £12.5m worth of O2 connectivity (7.5 million GB of data) to the National Databank by the end of 2023 – enough to provide 319 million hours of internet use to over 200,000 people in need, nationwide. Virgin Media O2 has also donated £500,000 to Good Things Foundation to cover the operational costs of running the Databank.
Ahead of a nationwide rollout in November, an initial three-month pilot with 10 community organisations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is now underway. The pilot will help test and improve the online platform built by Virgin Media O2’s innovation team, The Lab.
Virgin Media O2 and Good Things Foundation are also calling on other mobile networks to join the National Databank to help scale its reach and impact.
Lutz Schüler, Chief Executive Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:
“The pandemic has escalated the UK’s data poverty crisis like never before – and with many millions of people facing digital exclusion, now is the time to come together and close the gap on digital inequality.
“Our industry has done remarkable things in recent months to keep customers connected when they needed it most, but it can’t stop there. By establishing the first ever National Databank with Good Things Foundation, coupled with a £12.5m data pledge, we want to build a lasting legacy from the pandemic so we’re now asking our colleagues in the mobile industry to join us and help end data poverty for good.”
Helen Milner OBE, Group Chief Executive, Good Things Foundation, added:
“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.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Virgin Media O2 to launch the National Databank, which can be thought of as a ‘food bank for data’. Now is the time for us to come together to address the issue of data poverty in the UK once and for all.”
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About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.