London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2025

Internet providers have 'moral obligation' to help customers through cost of living crisis

Internet providers have 'moral obligation' to help customers through cost of living crisis

More and more families are struggling with their internet bills, which often are linked to inflation and have been going up this year - along with everything else.

Internet providers have a moral obligation to help customers through the cost of living crisis, the regulator has said.

More and more families are struggling with their internet bills, which often are linked to inflation and have been going up this year. Along with everything else.

Ofcom's networks and communications group director, Lindsey Fussell, told Sky News they know that people up and down the country are struggling with their bills at the moment.

"It's essential that broadband and mobile services are affordable," she said. "Particularly for those who are really struggling with their finances at the moment, any bill can be a problem.

"And that's why we've been encouraging companies to make available what we call social tariffs. That's low-cost offers for people who are in particularly difficult financial circumstances.

"And we certainly think that telecoms companies really have a moral imperative to make these kinds of offers available, and to make sure that people are aware of them so that people can take advantage of the best deal possible."

Internet providers have been engaging with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on how to support customers through the cost of living crisis, and have pledged to help customers who can no longer afford their bills.

But many families are turning to data banks: like a food bank, but with vouchers or SIM cards for mobile internet data, helping people access the internet.

The Good Things Foundation is behind the idea.

Chief executive of the Good Things Foundation, Helen Milner


Chief executive Helen Milner told Sky News the charity was struggling to keep up with demand.

She said: "Now with the cost of living, the price of broadband, be that fixed or mobile, is coming through as such an issue.

"We can't really roll [our data bank service] out fast enough - the need is so huge."

She said that while internet access has improved over the past few years, the so-called "digital divide" between those who can get online and those who can't, is deepening.

"People who are left behind are getting further and further left behind," she said. "And quite often the people who are suffering and who are excluded from being able to benefit from using the internet are also the people who are struggling financially as well."

Citizen Advice warned that more than two million people were falling behind on their bills last year.

That's likely to get worse.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
×