UK telecoms giant Virgin Media O2 has urged the government to cut VAT on social tariffs.

The company has also called for the government’s Digital Inclusion Strategy, which was published in 2014.

The strategy sets out how government and partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors will increase digital inclusion, which means helping people become capable of using and benefiting from the internet.

The move comes as the operator contacts all five million broadband, TV and landline customers about its social tariffs – which offer cut price broadband and entertainment for those receiving a range of benefits – through information on customer monthly bills, in what it describes as an “industry first”.

"Whether that’s through information on customers’ monthly bills or our collaboration with local authorities across the UK, millions more people will be regularly reminded about our Essential Broadband packages which offer cut-price broadband and entertainment for those facing financial difficulty," said Robb Orr, chief operations officer, Virgin Media O2. “While we have regularly increased the support on offer, we won’t solve digital exclusion alone, which is why we’re reiterating our call on Government to update its 9-year-old digital inclusion strategy and cut VAT on social tariffs to further help those who need it.”

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