Virgin Media O2 UK Hand Free Mobile Data to All Big Issue Vendors

Mobile operator O2 (VMO2) has announced that it is supplying all Big Issue (magazine) vendors with free mobile SIMs and “data vouchers“, which represents an improvement from last year when they gave over 200 Big Issue vendors free data plans, enabling them to take contactless payments (52% of magazine sales are via contactless).

The Big Issue is a street newspaper / magazine, which is a social enterprise that gives people who are experiencing homelessness, or who are vulnerably housed, a bit of extra support to earn a small income. But it’s unclear precisely how much monthly data O2 will be providing to the vendors and for how long they will continue to do this.

Gareth Turpin, Chief Commercial Officer at VMO2, said: “This year we wanted our Christmas campaign to not only help raise awareness of the support available via the National Databank, but to get data into the hands of those facing an unconnected Christmas. As part of this, we’re proud to be partnering with the Big Issue for the second year in a row to offer all vendors access to free mobile data each month.”