Virgin Media O2 is trialling ‘databanks’ which provide free mobile data, texts, and calls for struggling consumers in a number of O2 stores in the UK.

The National Databank, founded by Virgin and digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation, is based on the same concept as a foodbank but instead provides free internet and calls for those in financial difficulty.

Virgin, which is trialling the new concept across 10 High Street stores, has pledged around 61 million GB of free O2 data for the initiative by the end of 2025.

“Having sufficient data in our increasingly digital society is not a nice to have, it’s an absolute essential," said Helen Milner, group chief executive, Good Things Foundation. "If you’re not online you can’t save money on products and services, help your children to participate in home-learning, and apply for jobs."

According to the charity, there are currently two million households struggling to afford internet access in the UK and 10 million adults lacking basic digital skills.

Consumers who are unable to pay for data will be eligible for 20GB of free O2 data per month for up to six months - equivalent to roughly 220 hours of internet browsing every four weeks.

Virgin said that the stores taking part in the trial are in areas where people are most likely to be digitally excluded or places where people have not been able to access the National Databank in their area before.

“It’s now going to be easier than ever for those in need to access the National Databank directly on the High Street via our O2 stores, so they can get online and connect to essential services - from medical appointments to applying for jobs,” said Gareth Turpin, chief commercial officer, Virgin Media O2. “And with our additional one million GB of free data available via special Christmas SIM Cards, Virgin Media O2 is helping more people get the data they need, so they can stay in touch with loved ones over the festive period.”

The O2 stores taking part in the pilot are: Ballymena, Broadstairs (Thanet Westwood Cross) Colchester, Hastings, Hull (Jameson Street), Norwich, Newport, Perth, Plymouth, and Stockton-on-Tees (Teesside Retail Park).

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