Virgin Media O2 UK Tackles Data Poverty with Free WiFi Service

Mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media) has signed a new multi-year partnership with UK tech charity Jangala, which aims to help get thousands of people affected by data poverty online by introducing free WiFi hotspots via the roll-out of 5,000 broadband-enabling “Get Boxes” to homes, community centres, refuges, and homeless shelters.

The “Get Boxes” appear to be small WiFi routers that can each connect up to around 20 people (there’s a larger “Big Box” unit for those seeking to connect more users). The idea is that these routers can be posted to a user, who can then simply plug it into mains electricity, establishing a secure Wi-Fi network instantly.

The broadband connectivity for all this will be supplied by O2’s mobile 4G data connectivity (there’s no mention of 5G support), which we assume must come integrated with the router in order for it to work in the way described above. The plan is to send 5,000 Get Boxes to schools, charities, and other community initiatives, and then distribute those to households and other groups that need them the most.

The boxes will also be sent to temporary accommodation sites. For example, Get Boxes are being used at a domestic abuse refuge centre in Coventry, helping victims to access essential online services to help them rebuild their lives.

The partnership will build on VMO2’s existing support of Jangala’s global Emergency Response programme which has seen ‘Big Boxes’ being deployed during humanitarian crises, enabling disaster response teams and communities to access WiFi, including the tragic earthquake in Türkiye and Syria earlier this year.

Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at VMO2, said:

“Through our partnership with Jangala, we’ll help thousands of low-income families and people who would otherwise be unconnected to get online via free fast and reliable WiFi so they can access essential services, like booking medical appointments or applying for work, or staying in touch with their loved ones.

It builds on the measures Virgin Media O2 is taking to tackle data poverty. Whether it’s free O2 data from the National Databank, rehoming devices and data with people who need them, or offering great value broadband plans for people receiving benefits, we’re continuing to help people in need stay connected.”

Jangala’s remote management and visibility metrics should make it easy for their project partners – such as operators like VMO2 or charities providing support to vulnerable people – to receive usage statistics and control the service. But the announcement makes no mention of any caveats, such as how much included data will be provided, whether any checking will be done to ensure good 4G signals exist in the end-user’s area or for how long the service itself will last.