Virgin Media O2 has partnered with the Good Things Foundation to roll out a National Databank across the UK to help tackle data poverty.

The company will dish out free O2 mobile data to the 1.5 million homes in the UK without internet access. The National Databank acts as a central hub where community groups can access free ‘data voucher codes’ and SIM cards for anyone who needs them.

Following the databank’s three-month pilot scheme, the company decided to gift 10GB of O2 data to for every plan purchased between 1 November and 31 January.

The National Databank was created by Virgin Media O2, working closely with Good Things Foundation and other digital inclusion experts including Community Organisers, Operation Wi-Fi, Hubbub and Nominet, and has been gifted to Good Things Foundation to run through its network of 5,000 community groups.

“With many millions of people still facing digital exclusion, now is the time to come together and close the gap on digital inequality, and build a lasting legacy to help end data poverty for good,” said Lutz Schüler, chief executive, Virgin Media O2. “The success of the pilot scheme has shown us just how important the National Databank is to those who need it – and as it rolls out across the UK, we want to do even more.

“Through our data pledge this Christmas, we’re calling on our customers to help us triple our original donation, and connect the disconnected when they need it most.”

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