Free mobile data, texts and calls in O2-owned stores across Scotland for people in need during festive season

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Virgin Media O2 is helping more people in need across Scotland access free mobile data this Christmas by rolling out the National Databank to 26 Scottish O2-owned stores, alongside increasing the amount of data available to help those who need it to get online and stay connected to loved ones.

From December 7, Scottish O2-owned stores will start to become National Databank Digital Inclusion Hubs, providing free O2 data, plus texts and calls to anyone experiencing data poverty - regardless of their mobile provider.

It is part of a wider commitment where all O2-owned stores across the UK will become National Databanks Digital Inclusion Hubs.The National Databank, created by Virgin Media O2 and the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation, is like a foodbank for data, providing free O2 mobile data, texts and calls.

Virgin Media O2 has committed more than 61 million GB of O2 data to the initiative by the end of 2025.In addition, Virgin Media O2 has also boosted the amount of free O2 data available via all National Databank Digital Inclusion Hubs in Scotland to 25GB per month for six months - which is enough for around 275 hours of internet browsing per month.Virgin Media O2 and Good Things Foundation are also supporting people experiencing, and at risk of, homelessness this winter and beyond by expanding the National Databank to charity, Crisis and its Skylight Centre in Edinburgh.The charity will also provide second-hand smartphones to their guests, which have been donated from the Community Calling programme - run by Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity, Hubbub.With free smartphones and data, people experiencing homelessness can access essential services – such as finding a place to stay,