How the UK’s Mobile Operators are helping customers through the cost-of-living crisis

The UK’s Mobile Network Operators including EE and Three are offering a range of support options to customers who need extra help with rising living costs and bills, and to ensure they stay connected during difficult times. The Operators and Government have agreed a number of new commitments to support people amid rising costs. Offering more manageable payments and deals, improving digital skills, ensuring online safety, and reducing data poverty are all pledges the UK’s mobile industry is committed to. Both EE and Three have proactively put in place measures to support customers most in need whilst continuing to invest in expanding and improving their networks – a challenging balance to strike in the current climate.

To support customers who need more affordable mobile connectivity, EE has launched their new EE Basics social tariff for mobile. EE Basics is a £12 per month, 30-day SIM-only package giving customers who receive certain means-tested benefits access to the EE mobile network for an affordable price. In addition to EE Basics, EE’s parent group BT also offers subsidised or discounted tariffs through its social broadband tariff Home Essentials to connect those in need of extra support with affordable broadband and calls from just £15 a month. EE, BT or Plusnet customers who are eligible to move to Home Essentials can move penalty-free. To help more eligible customers take advantage of these social tariff offerings, sign-up is available in-store on the high street, in addition to sign-up online and over the phone.

Marc Allera, CEO BT Consumer brands EE, BT and Plusnet, said:

“Supporting our customers, especially those most in need, is hugely important to us. Our low-cost social tariffs for broadband and mobile support those customers who are worried about their finances and need extra help.”

Three is working with Good Things Foundation to support the charitable National Databank scheme to help tackle data poverty in the UK. The scheme aims to provide free mobile internet connectivity to people in need, acting like a food bank for the digital age. This includes providing free SIMs, data, minutes and texts. These are then distributed through Good Things Foundation’s network of local community partners. In joining the initiative, Three is pledging 1 million GB of data in aid of the UK National Data Bank to help people who need extra help get connected across the nation. The operator also offers refurbished donated devices along with 6 months’ free data, calls, and texts to enable disadvantaged people to get connected through its Reconnected Programme.

Elaine Carey, COO of Three UK, said:

“We are committed to providing better connectivity, responsibly. By joining the UK National Databank, we want to help close this divide and work together to end data poverty, so everyone can benefit from the many opportunities that digital access offers.”

Read Mobile UK’s press release to learn more about the support initiatives Operators are offering.