The UK’s major telecoms companies have agreed their
customers’ mobile phone data won’t be used up if they’re
seeking information and support online.
Zero-rating these websites is the latest in a series of
commitments from the telecoms industry to support
vulnerable people during the pandemic. It comes at a time
when some charities are reporting significant increases in
visits to their websites.
Instructions to stay at home as much as possible may have
been a major cause of anxiety for some victims while social
distancing measures mean it is harder for organisations to
offer face-to-face support.
To ensure this vital support remains available mobile
network operators EE, Vodafone, O2, Three, Sky Mobile,
Virgin Media, Tesco Mobile and giffgaff have agreed that
their customers will not incur data charges when accessing
support and information on the following websites:
Providing support for victims and witnesses of crime
Victim Support – www.victimsupport.org.uk
Providing support for victims of sexual violence and abuse
Rape Crisis – www.rapecrisis.org.uk
The Survivors Trust – www.thesurvivorstrust.org
Male Survivors Partnership – www.malesurvivor.co.uk
Providing support for victims of domestic abuse
Refuge – www.refuge.org.uk
National Domestic Abuse Helpline – nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Women’s Aid and Welsh Women’s Aid – www.womensaid.org.uk and www.welshwomensaid.org.uk
Providing support for children suffering abuse
NSPCC – www.nspcc.org.uk
Digital Infrastructure Minister said:
This agreement will help people who are at risk of
violence during this pandemic get the information and
support they need, particularly those on pay as you go
contracts or tight data allowances.
This is yet another positive commitment from the UK’s
brilliant mobile network providers to support the
vulnerable and contribute to the national effort to
overcome coronavirus.
Justice Minister said:
Victims need to know that support remains available
despite this pandemic.
Ensuring free access to these important websites and more
funding for vital helplines is just one part of the work
we are doing to make sure no victim is left to suffer
alone.
The move follows previous commitments from the UK’s
internet service and mobile providers to support and
protect vulnerable
consumers and the NHSduring
the pandemic.
As part of this all of the UK’s internet providers have
already agreed to remove all data allowance caps on current
fixed broadband services, so accessing these websites
through a home broadband connection will not incur data
charges.
Further Quotes
The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales Dame
said:
This is something that I have called for and I am pleased
that the Ministry of Justice and the mobile network
operators have responded and worked together to make it
happen.
No one should be denied access to these important sites
because of data restrictions. This move will allow even
more victims – especially those who may be struggling to
use traditional contact methods during the lockdown – to
access the help and support they need, and I hope that it
becomes a permanent arrangement.
Nick Jeffery, CEO of Vodafone UK said:
We believe in the power of technology to make a positive
difference in the world, and have worked to support
domestic abuse organisations for many years. The Bright
Sky app - developed by the Vodafone Foundation and Hestia
and which provides support and information to anyone
affected by domestic abuse - has seen a 47% increase in
downloads during lockdown. This is a huge concern and we
wholeheartedly support this initiative.
Robert Finnegan, CEO of Three UK said:
We believe that the most vulnerable people in society
should be able to access the help and support that they
need at this difficult time. Zero-rating access to these
websites is a great initiative that Three are pleased to
support.
Tom Denyard, CEO of Tesco Mobile said:
At Tesco Mobile, we understand that the ability to
connect can be a lifeline for many so we want to ensure
that our customers have access to information and support
during this difficult time, without the need to use their
data allowance. We hope that by giving free access we are
helping, even in a small way, to provide some level of
comfort to victims of crime.
Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media said:
The role of connectivity in our lives has never been more
apparent than it is right now. We know that, in these
difficult times, being able to connect to the outside
world and access help and support is vital. We’re
committed to providing easy, unrestricted access to these
important websites for our customers at a time when they
may need it most.
Nicola Green, Director of Corporate Affairs at O2, said:
We are pleased once again to be working with the
Government during the COVID-19 pandemic to support
vulnerable people. The ability of domestic violence
victims to access support services through digital
connectivity can help protect and remove them from
dangerous situations. O2 is delighted to back this
initiative.
Debbie Klein, Group Chief Marketing, Corporate Affairs and
People Officer for Sky said:
Like many, we are deeply concerned to see the shocking
increase in the number of people reporting incidents of
domestic violence during lockdown. Sky is committed to
supporting our customers and those affected by ensuring
they are able to seek information and support online
without using their data”.
Christian Thrane, MD Marketing, BT / EE said:
We’re pleased to be able to support this important
initiative to help domestic violence victims during the
pandemic.
Ash Schofield, CEO at giffgaff said:
Since the coronavirus pandemic began there’s sadly been
an influx of outreach to websites offering support to
vulnerable victims of crime. During such difficult times,
we at giffgaff have joined forces with other telcos to
provide vulnerable victims of crime free access to the
websites offering vital support needed.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- This is in addition to NHS
websites and other support websites already zero
rated by some mobile network operators, and includes
Imkaan, a website dedicated to addressing violence
against Black and Minority Ethnic women and girls.
- The majority of these websites have now been zero
rated, but this is on an operator by operator basis. All of
the mobile network operators have committed for the zero
rating to take effect as soon as possible.
- Mobile network operators have agreed that these
measures will be in effect until at least 31 October 2020.
- Those who have run out of data will still be able to
access these websites by typing the exact web address into
their mobile internet browser.
- Zero-rating usually applies on a domain basis only.
Third party content on these websites may not be covered by
the zero rating.
