***UPDATE – O2 and Vodafone have recently joined this scheme***
This scheme temporarily increases data allowances for mobile phone users on certain networks. This is so that children and young people can access remote education if their face-to-face education is disrupted.
Who can get help
Schools, trusts and local authorities can request mobile data increases for children and young people who:
- don’t have access to a fixed broadband connection
- cannot afford the additional data needed to access educational resources or social care services
- have access to a mobile device that uses a participating network
- are facing disruption to their face-to-face education, or have been advised not to attend school
Children with access to a mobile phone on one of the following networks might be able to benefit:
- EE
- O2
- Sky Mobile
- SMARTY
- Tesco Mobile
- Three
- Virgin Mobile
- Vodafone
Other providers may join the scheme at a later stage.
The amount of data someone will get depends on their mobile network (see below for details). Some networks can’t offer data to Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) customers.
When the request has been processed the customer will receive:
- a text message when their free data has been activated
- when their free data will end
- that this data can be used when tethering a mobile phone to another device for internet access
The Network Offers:
EE
Be aware that until the end of January, it may take EE some time to process requests.
- The recipient will get 20GB of additional data per month until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is available to both Pay Monthly and Pay-as-you-go customers.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
- EE will process no more than 60,000 requests across all schools. If they reach this limit, they will not accept further requests.
O2
Be aware that until the end of January, it may take O2 some time to process requests.
- The recipient will get 40GB of additional data per month until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is available to both Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go customers.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
Sky Mobile
- The recipient will get 100GB of additional data.
- The offer is only available to Pay Monthly customers identified as needing this support. It’s not available to Pay-as-you-go customers.
- Sky Mobile customers will be able to see the data uplift in their piggybank.
- Sky Mobile will aim to process the request within 14 days.
- Sky Mobile will process no more than 1800 requests across all schools. If they reach this limit, they will not accept further requests.
SMARTY
- The recipient will get unlimited data until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is available to both Pay Monthly and Pay-as-you-go customers.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
- Smarty will aim to process the request within 14 days.
Tesco Mobile
- The recipient will get 20GB of additional data per month until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is only available to Pay Monthly customers identified as needing this support. It’s not available to Pay-as-you-go customers.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
- Tesco Mobile will aim to process the request within 14 days.
- Tesco Mobile will process no more than 1,000 requests across all schools. If they reach this limit, they will not accept further requests.
Three
- The recipient will get unlimited data until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is available to both Pay Monthly and Pay-as-you-go customers.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
- Three will aim to process the request within 14 days.
Three
- The recipient will get unlimited data until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is available to both Pay Monthly and Pay-as-you-go customers.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
- Three will aim to process the request within 14 days.
Vodafone
Be aware that until the end of January, it may take Vodafone some time to process requests.
- The recipient will get unlimited data until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is available to both Pay monthly and Pay as you go customers. Pay as you go customers must have a Big Value Bundle worth £10 or above to be eligible.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
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