Unaffordable: 1 million in UK cannot afford internet at home

According to a survey conducted by Citizens Advice, up to one million individuals in the United Kingdom have cancelled their broadband subscriptions in the past year due to the rising cost of living.

The BBC reported that Citizens Advice argues that these individuals could have benefited from more affordable social tariffs or special low-cost packages in order to maintain their internet access.

The BBC noted that the watchdog group Ofcom has expressed concerns that 4.3 million eligible people are not taking advantage of available deals.

However, the British government claims to have collaborated with Ofcom and the industry to introduce a variety of products to the market, starting from £10 per month, in an effort to encourage the adoption of social tariffs.

Additionally, a government spokesperson told the BBC that a broadband eligibility checker had been introduced to simplify the signup process for benefit claimants, with major providers Sky and Virgin Media already participating.

However, Ofcom stated on their website that the uptake of social tariffs remains low, currently standing at around 5% of eligible individuals, although this figure has quadrupled since January of the previous year.

Citizens Advice conducted a survey of 6,000 individuals and found that those receiving universal credit were six times more likely to have discontinued their broadband service in the last year compared to non-claimants.

Ofcom reports that one in three UK households struggle to afford communication services and has called on companies to do more to promote social tariffs.

Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, told the BBC that the regulator should hold firms accountable and improve the uptake of social pricing, emphasizing that individuals are being priced out of internet access at an alarming rate.

The fact that people with lower incomes are being priced out of internet access is very concerning, particularly as internet access has become an essential utility for daily life.

Those who cannot afford data face challenges such as managing benefits, applying for jobs online, and accessing cheaper prices online, exacerbating their financial difficulties.

In a statement to the press, the UK government asserted that job centre staff regularly provide claimants with information about social tariffs and that claimants can use computers at their local job centre to search for employment.

However, Citizens Advice shared the case of Rob, a 63-year-old individual who has been unable to afford broadband since approximately 2012.

As reported by the BBC, Rob explained that the lack of home access hampers his ability to apply for jobs at any time, as he relies on limited library hours.

Additionally, it restricts his access to services such as his general practitioner, online support, and shopping.

Despite the UK government's claims that measures have been implemented to guarantee internet access to those with low income, Digital Poverty Alliance, along with Citizens Advice, expresses concerns about the slow improvement in social tariff uptake, which remains insufficient to ensure digital inclusion for all households.