Openreach to install broadband for free in households receiving Universal Credit

Openreach has announced it will be axing its broadband installation fees for Universal Credit households across the country.

The company, owned by BT, would usually charge internet service providers – such as Sky or TalkTalk – for connecting households to broadband, but it will now be saving an estimated one million people up to £92 by waiving the charges for low income households in their new ‘Connect the Unconnected’ campaign.

The Connect the Unconnected offer will apply to households that receive universal credit with zero other earnings, which have not been connected to the Openreach network for the past ninety days.

The Good Things Foundation, which works to make sure everyone benefits from digital tech, told the BBC it welcomed Openreach’s fee waiver.

A spokesperson said: “Access to data is a lifeline. Public services like universal credit are already online, and the pandemic has meant more of us are managing our health online through contacting GPs via video call, or making use of the NHS apps.”

Mark Jackson, the Editor-in-Chief of broadband news site ISP Review, also said the offer was ‘a positive development’ but commented that caveats meant the announcement ‘may only have a limited impact’ and it is yet to be seen how the savings would be passed on.

@WeAreOpenreach / Twitter

According to an Ofcom report published in July, two million households still struggle to afford internet access. 

The report acknowledged that providers have made some improvements, such as offering targeted and affordable ‘social’ tariffs for customers on low incomes, though there is still more to do. 

They wrote: “However, if the telecoms industry does not take sufficient action to address our concerns, we think there would be a strong case for exploring whether mandatory social tariffs would be necessary to fill the gaps in support, alongside other potential options.”