New agreements mean many NHS frontline staff will get extra mobile data, texts and calls at no extra cost, while broadband upgrades will be prioritised for NHS clinicians working from home.

Other firms have committed to working with customers who find it difficult to pay their bill as a result of coronavirus. Measures include removing data allowances on fixed broadband services and offering new mobile and landline packages.

The move follows two previous announcements that some of the UK’s major internet service and mobile providers had agreed to support NHS staff and protect vulnerable consumers.

Supporting the NHS

Post Office, Voneus, Community Fibre, Spectrum, Wightfibre, Ask4, Zzoom, Lycamobile and iD mobile, have agreed, for some or all of the Covid-19 period, to support NHS workers by:

• Giving NHS frontline staff, who are existing customers, the data, texts and calls they need at no additional cost.
• Prioritising broadband upgrades for NHS clinicians working from home.
• Improving connectivity for care homes with slow or no broadband connections.

Helping vulnerable customers

Post Office, Voneus, Community Fibre, Spectrum, Tesco Mobile, iD Mobile and giffgaff will support vulnerable consumers by:

• Committing to work with customers who find it difficult to pay their bill as a result of Covid-19.
• Removing data allowances on fixed broadband services.
• Offering new mobile and landline packages to help people stay connected.
• Providing alternative means of communication to vulnerable consumers and those self-isolating if priority repairs to fixed broadband and landlines can’t be completed.

Andrew Glover, chair of the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA), said: “ISPA supports these measures and have been working with our broader membership on how vulnerable consumers and NHS staff can be provided with the support they need at this time. We are delighted that more of our members are able to commit publicly to these important schemes.”