Full Fibre UK Broadband ISP Toob Launch Cheaper Social Tariff
Alternative network operator and gigabit broadband provider toob, which is deploying a full fibre (FTTP) network across parts of Southern England (they also share some of CityFibre’s infrastructure), has today become the latest ISP to launch a cheaper social tariff for those on certain state benefits.
The new toob essentials plan offers a 50Mbps full-fibre symmetric speed broadband connection for just £20 per month (no setup fees and a 1-month rolling contract) and is available to anybody within toob’s own network (excludes their availability via CityFibre) who is in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or Income Support.
Nick Parbutt, CEO of toob, said, “We founded toob on the belief that digital inclusion is vital in the modern world and that full-fibre broadband should be available to all. We are pleased that our new tariff, toob essentials, will be able to help connect people who may be struggling with the cost of getting online.”
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The Hampshire-based operator was originally backed by £75m from the Amber Infrastructure Group (here) and “up to” £87.5m from the Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund (here). During 2023 the operator also secured £160m of additional funding (debt financing) from Ares Management‘s Infrastructure Debt strategy (here), which could be upsized to £300m over time to support growth.
Toob’s own fibre network is known to cover 150,000 premises (24th Aug 2023 – not all RFS) and they’re aiming to reach 300,000 premises across parts of Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex in the future. The provider recently revealed that they’d passed 50,000 customers (here), which is more than double the 20,000 they had in June 2023.
Finally, a quick reminder. We know social tariffs can be a divisive topic for some, but that is not an excuse to abuse the comment system in order to post offensive remarks toward those who take state benefits. Such posts are against our rules and will be removed.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Pleased that Toob have launched a social tariff.
Perhaps it’s interesting that this is only available on their own network, not via CityFibre. Toob’s commercial offerings on CityFibre have been priced the same as on their own network, AFAICT. But obviously as a social tariff the economics don’t work for them on CityFibre.
P.S. I’m also pleased that cruel comments are against the rules of ISPreview.
Excellent option.. you can’t operate in today’s society without a functioning and stable internet connection, to pay bills, hospital appointments, taxes, etc, it would be good to see something like this ratified by the government as a minimum service level for all ISP’s to make available to all their serviceable properties.
I live in Dorset & Toob where out in force getting sign ups,excellent I thought, but for some unknown reason CityFibre haven’t installed the fibre in our street, everyone else on the estate has it.
Anyome care to explain why they would have missed one street out.
I like many old age pensioner, not on any Government allowance, so do not qualify for Social tariff.
On the other hand do not require 900mb, for low usage only needs enough a few WiFi bits Thermostat, Ring doorbell and speakers, and TV streaming so 300mb would be what’s needed, so £20pm would be ideal