All UK Virgin Media O2 Stores Offer Free Mobile Data to People in Need

Broadband and mobile giant Virgin Media and O2 (VMO2) have today announced that they’ve turned all of their UK stores into “National Digital Inclusion Hubs“, which will start offering free mobile data (mobile broadband), texts and calls to people who need it this Christmas – an extension of the Good Things Foundation’s National Databank.

The National Databank is somewhat like a foodbank but for free mobile data, texts, and calls, which can be accessed through hundreds of Good Things Foundation’s community partners across the UK and is being backed by most of the major mobile network operators. VMO2 has so far committed more than 61 million GB (GigaBytes) of O2 mobile data (4G, 5G) to the initiative by the end of 2025.

The news means that, from 7th December 2023, more than 240 O2 stores across the UK will start to become National Databank Digital Inclusion Hubs, providing free O2 data to anyone experiencing data poverty – regardless of their mobile provider. This follows a successful pilot of the National Databank in 10 O2 stores last Christmas.

As part of this, VMO2 has also boosted the amount of free O2 data available via such sites to 25GB per month for 6 months and extended availability of the National Databank to two major charities – Crisis and Change Please – Driving for Change. As well as offering free O2 data, texts and calls, both charities can also provide free second-hand Smartphones to their guests from the Community Calling programme – run by VMO2 and Hubbub.

With O2 stores, Crisis and Change Please becoming National Databank Digital Inclusion Hubs, the National Databank will be available at more than 1,600 locations across the UK. People can find their nearest Hub here.

Eligibility

• To be eligible for free mobile data from the National Databank, someone must:
• Be 18+ years old and from a low-income household, And qualify in one or several of the following statements:
  • Has no access or insufficient access to the internet at home
  • And/or has no or insufficient access to the internet when away from the home
  •  And/or cannot afford their existing monthly contract or top up
  • A person can have access to data for up to 12 months.