Virgin Media O2 to connect even more people this Christmas as all O2 stores become National Databank Hubs

• Virgin Media O2 is transforming a further 70 O2 stores into National Databank Hubs, providing free O2 mobile data to people experiencing poverty. This means O2’s entire retail footprint now hosts Databanks on high streets across the country. 

• People can receive 25GB of free O2 data per month for 12 months, helping them stay connected to essential services and loved ones. 

• It comes as Virgin Media O2 unveils an eye-catching art installation in London to highlight the issue of data poverty – backed by campaigner and actor, Will Mellor, who is encouraging those who need it to get free data. 

Virgin Media O2 is opening the doors to an extra 70 National Databank Hubs at O2 stores across the UK, to help people experiencing poverty get online and stay connected this Christmas and beyond. 

The company has now rolled out the National Databank to all O2 stores nationwide* – from Belfast to Burnley and Preston to Penzance  – which are providing free O2 mobile data, texts and calls to people who need it, regardless of their mobile operator. 

It means more than 300 O2 stores are part of the National Digital Inclusion Network, where those who need it can get easy access to a free O2 SIM with 25GB of monthly data for 12 months – enough for around 275 hours of internet browsing per month.  

This connectivity will support people experiencing data poverty to access essential websites and manage everyday tasks, such as booking medical appointments, applying for work, and online training, as well as helping them keep in touch with loved ones over the festive period and beyond. 

People can find their nearest National Databank here. 

Lonely this Christmas 

It comes as new research reveals around a quarter (26%) of Brits on low incomes (those with a household income of less than £15,000) are struggling to afford their mobile phone bill,  with more than  half (51%) saying they’d feel lonely if they couldn’t access the internet or mobile data at home.   

Meanwhile, nearly eight in 10 (78%) say they’d feel alone or isolated if they didn’t have mobile data over the Christmas period and couldn’t connect with their family or friends.  

In addition, a further 62% would miss out on the moments that make Christmas, such as sending festive messages or photos or videos from their Christmas celebrations, if they didn’t have mobile data. 

Putting the spotlight on data poverty  

To further draw attention to the issue of data poverty in the UK, Virgin Media O2 has created an eye catching and thought-provoking art installation on London’s South Bank, raising awareness of the 1.9 million UK households struggling to afford connectivity**.  

Playing into Christmas lights season where crowds flock to the capital to see spectacular festive illuminations, ‘Data Darkness’ is made up of 100 miniature homes – where the majority are lit up, while others are dimmed to near darkness, to highlight the UK households which will be disconnected this Christmas. 

It aims to encourage people in need, or those who know someone affected by data poverty, to get free O2 data from an O2 store.  

Virgin Media O2 launched the National Databank – which is like a food bank but for mobile data – with the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation, in 2021. There are now around 3,000 National Databank Hubs across the country, with O2 connecting more than 200,000 people nationwide. 

Transforming lives  

Before receiving free data from a National Databank in Sheffield, Kulthum, felt she was on the ‘outside of the world’, not knowing what was going on in the news, being able to speak to her family or learn new things. 

Kulthum said: “This time of year is where families meet and come together, and with the way the world works with technology, you need data-for shopping, speaking to people, going to different places, making payments, meeting up with friends and having video calls. 

“Even if you don’t get to spend time [with family], seeing their face and how they’re doing is really important… mentally it makes you feel like you are with them.” 

Nicola Green from Virgin Media O2 said, 

“We know that people experiencing poverty are having to make difficult choices around how they spend their money – but affording mobile data shouldn’t be one of them.  

“That’s why Virgin Media O2 has rolled out the National Databank to all its O2 stores nationwide, offering free O2 mobile data to connect people in need, so they can get online and stay in touch with their loved ones this Christmas and beyond.” 

The campaign is being backed by campaigner and actor, Will Mellor, who unveiled the ‘Data Darkness’ installation.  Will is passionate about supporting disadvantaged communities as he grew up in poverty and is committed to helping those in need access essential services – from free mobile data to ensuring people experiencing homelessness have somewhere safe to stay. 

Will said: “It’s heartbreaking to think there are people who can’t connect with their loved ones this Christmas. 

“I experienced poverty first-hand when I was growing up, so I appreciate how vital initiatives such as the National Databank are to underprivileged communities who are struggling to afford connectivity. 

“I would encourage anyone who’s in need to visit their local O2 store to get free mobile data for 12 months so they can get online and stay connected to everything and everyone they love this Christmas and beyond.” 

Helen Milner OBE, Group CEO at Good Things Foundation, said:

“I’m delighted to see the National Databank grow even larger, with a further 70 O2 stores across the UK now becoming National Databank Digital Inclusion Hubs.  

“Virgin Media O2’s work to help reduce digital exclusion now allows the Databank to extend its impact to even more people and is a lifeline to those struggling to access the internet this Christmas. This means more people in need can access essential services and connect with loved ones.  

“This work underpins Good Things Foundation’s ambition to help one million people benefit from the digital world by 2025. Together we can fix the digital divide for good.” 

The National Databank forms part of a series of measures Virgin Media O2 has in place to support people in need so they can stay connected. This includes the company’s social tariffs for people who receive government support payments, such as Essential Broadband and the O2 Essential plan. 

ENDS 

Notes to editors:  

Strand Partners’ specialist research team surveyed 435 people in the UK with a household income below £15,000. This sub-sample was derived from a nationally representative sample by age, gender and NUTS 1 region of 2,040 respondents. Fieldwork took place on the following dates: 14.11.24 – 16.11.24 and 21.11.24 – 22.11.24. 

*These 70 O2 stores were previously franchisee stores and are now owned by O2. This has enabled Virgin Media O2 to roll out the National Databank to these stores in addition to its existing retail footprint. 

**According to Ofcom, there are 1.9 million UK households with a mobile phone that it find it difficult to afford their service.  

The new Databank Hubs located in O2 stores are: 

• Antrim – The Junction. 

• Armagh – Mall Shopping Centre 

• Barnstaple 

• Belfast – Kennedy Centre 

• Bexleyheath  

• Birmingham – The Fort Shopping Centre 

• Bishop Auckland  

• Bishop’s Stortford  

• Burnley – The Mall 

• Chester – Broughton Shopping Park 

• Christchurch  

• Cirencester 

• Cookstown 

• Coventry – Arena Shopping Park 

• Didcot – The Orchard Centre 

• Doncaster – Frenchgate Centre 

• Downpatrick 

• Edgware 

• Edinburgh – Cameron Toll Shopping Centre 

• Ellesmere Port – Coliseum Shopping Park 

• Enniskillen – Erneside Shopping Centre 

• Havant – Meridian Centre 

• Hempstead Valley – Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre 

• Hounslow 

• Ilford – The Exchange Centre 

• Keighley 

• Leicester – Beaumont Shopping Centre 

• Leigh – Spinning Gate Shopping Centre 

• Lichfield 

• Limavady 

• Liverpool – Liverpool Shopping Park 

• London – Brixton 

• London – Colliers Wood, Tandem Centre 

• London – Eltham 

• London – Lewisham, Lewisham Shopping Centre 

• London – Stratford Centre 

• London – Stratford Westfield 

• London – Tottenham Court Road 

• London – Walthamstow, &17Central  

• London – Wandsworth, Southside Centre 

• London – Wood Green 

• London – Woolwich 

• Londonderry – Foyleside Shopping Centre 

• Loughborough 

• Magherafelt – Meadowlane Centre 

• Market Harborough 

• Newmarket – The Guineas 

• Newtownabbey – Abbey Centre 

• Ormskirk 

• Penrith – New Squares 

• Penzance 

• Rochdale – Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre 

• Rugby – Junction One Retail Park 

• Skegness – Hildreds Shopping Centre 

• Stamford 

• Strabane 

• Trowbridge – The Shires Shopping Centre 

• Truro – Lemon Quay Retail Park 

• Welwyn Garden City – Howard Centre 

• West Bromwich – New Square 

• Worksop – Bridge Place 

• Bolton – Middlebrook Retail Park  

• Bridlington – The Promenade 

• Middleton – Middleton Shopping Centre 

• Preston – Deepdale Shopping Park 

• Sheffield – Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre 

• Skipton 

• Thornton Cleveleys 

• Washington – The Galleries  

• Shrewsbury 

To be eligible for free data from the National Databank, a recipient must: 

• Age: Must be 18 years or older. 

• Income: Must belong to a low-income household. 

• Internet Access: 

• Having no or insufficient access to the internet at home, 

• And/or no or insufficient access to the internet when away from home, 

• And/or being unable to afford their existing monthly contract or top-up.