Full Fibre UK Broadband ISP 4th Utility Launch Cheap Social Tariff

UK ISP 4th Utility, which building a new gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network to more homes (SDU) and large residential blocks (MDU), has today announced the full launch of their cheaper social tariff for those on benefits. The move is intended to help vulnerable users with the cost-of-living crisis.

At present the provider expects to cover 94,000 homes with their new full fibre network by the end of December 2022, which complements their earlier stated ambition to reach 300,000 premises by around autumn 2023 (here).

Back in May 2022 we reported that the ISP was piloting a new social tariff to help complement that effort (here), albeit only in one specific location (i.e. the 1,200-property WATMOS Community Homes site in Walsall), and this is now being extended across their network.

The tariff itself costs just £14.40 per month and for that you can expect to receive a free installation, symmetric broadband speeds of 30Mbps and a 30-day rolling contract term, with “no tie-ins to lengthy agreements” and no requirements for “extensive paper trails involving credit checks.” We assume this will be accompanied by a wireless router, although the announcement didn’t confirm that

Tony Hughes, CEO of 4th Utility, said:

“We’re delighted to announce the launch of our new social tariff – and we hope it can make life slightly easier for those who most need it.

Digital inclusivity is hugely important in helping to reduce the digital divide across the nation, and 4th Utility is committed to championing it across the board.

More focus needs to be applied in this area as the heightened cost of living pressures we’re currently facing take full effect. We agree that there should be better information on more affordable social tariffs, and they must be easy to access for those subscribing to the service.”

At the time of writing, we couldn’t see an obvious reference to the new tariff on the provider’s website, but hopefully that will change in the near future. A social tariff is no good if people who might be eligible for it do not know that it exists or do know, but struggle to find any details on it.