Broadband ISP BT Extends the UK Availability of its Social Tariffs

UK ISP BT has this afternoon announced that their low-cost home broadband social tariffs – ‘Home Essentials‘ – are also being made available to thousands of additional households, often alongside the inclusion of free laptops.

Home Essentials is a “fibre broadband” (FTTC/P) and call package that is usually only available to those receiving Universal Credit (and certain legacy benefits), which offers unlimited data, 700 minutes of included phone calls and speeds of 36Mbps or 67Mbps for just £15 or £20 per month respectively (detailed package summary) – plus £9.99 (one-off) for router postage.

However, BT has today partnered with charity Home-Start UK, which supports families with young children across the UK who are facing a range of challenges, to offer 2,500 households with no connectivity free laptops and access to its social tariff. Families in temporary accommodation, with no fixed address, or those in need of emergency support, are also being given mobile devices and prepaid SIMs.

The tariff will also be made available to families in need nationwide through the ‘Connected Families‘ scheme, available through Buttle UK and Barnardo‘s, following a pilot scheme in partnership with the Department of Education (DfE).

Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer Division, said:

“BT’s purpose of Connecting for Good is at the heart of what we do, and having an affordable fixed broadband connection is fundamental to quality of life.

We need to find sustainable ways to make the internet a level playing field for all. That’s why it’s been great to have run a trial in partnership with the Department of Education, and now we’re proud to join forces with Home-Start, as well as Buttle UK to get BT Home Essentials to those who need it the most.”

The announcement is naturally a response to today’s government-linked commitments, which focused heavily on the push for social tariffs (here).