BT has announced a new fibre tariff for eligible benefit claimants to help ensure that everyone can access the opportunities provided by a reliable internet connection.
The new “social tariff” is called BT Home Essentials and offers connectivity for £15/month – approximately half the cost of BT’s standard package. Over the course of a year, the new tariff will save customers around £240 compared to BT’s Fibre Essential package.
BT Home Essentials provides an average download speed of 36 Mbps and also features 700 minutes of calls.
Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer division, said:
“Fast, reliable connectivity has never been as important as it is today, with millions of people relying upon our networks to get back on their feet after the pandemic.
We want to help as many people as we can, which is why at the end of June we’ll be launching BT Home Essentials, increasing the eligibility of our social tariff to include all customers on Universal Credit.
BT Home Essentials will be available at half the price of our standard fibre package, helping a potential four million households on low income save on bills and stay connected to vital online services.”
The package is available to all customers on Universal Credit but also other means-tested benefits including people receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, and Employment and Support Allowance.
Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman commented:
“In today’s digital world, everyone should be able to access fast, reliable and affordable internet, so I’m thrilled that BT is the latest provider to launch new deals for low-income households.
We have been working with internet providers to offer affordable broadband tariffs for those struggling with bills to help the UK build back fairer from the pandemic. I hope to see others taking similar action soon.”
Research from BT recently found that almost three quarters (74%) of Brits would not find it easy to improve their financial situation without connectivity. Furthermore, the majority (79%) of financially vulnerable people are reliant on broadband connectivity to manage their household finances.
For even more perspective about how critical Brits view connectivity, three times as many people say they could not go without broadband (67%) versus public transport (20%).
BT Home Essentials is set to launch in June.
(Image Credit: BT)
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