Today saw the launch of ‘The People’s Operator’, a new mobile virtual network operator that plans to match the big guns in the sector by offering comparable service, at cheaper rates – while simultaneously giving 25% of its profits to charity.
The network is currently pre-pay, and doesn’t have any retail storefront to sell from, but its founders believe it has the capacity to change the UK market and potentially go global.
Users will pay just 7.6p per text message, and 12.1p per minute on voice calls. Also, texts and calls between phones on TPO will be free. 25% of the company’s profits will be diverted to the TPO foundation, run by Sir Chris Kelly, which will distribute the proceeds to charities big and small. Already major charities Childline and NSPCC have signed on, alongside smaller bodies such as Caxton House in London’s North Islington. Consumers will also be able to nominate a charity or cause of their choice to nominate 10% of their bill to, as long as that charity is registered as such. This means smaller, local organisations don’t miss out on the impact.
The key factor its founders, business and tech luminaries Andrew Rosenfeld (Airnet), Mark Epstein and Tom Gutteridge (Mass1 Communications), want to emphasize is ease of use. The venture is focused on getting consumers to ‘just keep doing what they’re doing,’ says Gutteridge – that is, there is no price premium, no extra fees or tough choices for consumers to make – it functions as any other mobile operator does.
“The People’s Operator represents a fundamental shift in the way commercial utilities support communities and causes. The more profit that is generated, the more we can pass on to deserving parts of society,” says Rosenfeld.
Esther Rantzen, president and founder of Childline said that the recession means it has been a ‘tough time for charities’, and new models of donating money need to be developed. She is backing the TPO project as it makes for a priceless way of giving, as users don’t have to pay any extra to donate to the cause. There has been a spike in need at Childline especially, as more victims feel more willing to come forward in light of the Jimmy Savile scandal. Unfortunately, unlike businesses, the more business a charity does, the more it costs. She believes TPO is a positive new way for consumers to make a contribution back to their community.
“Its a way of Keeping Calm, Carrying On and helping others,” she said.
The company operates as a virtual network operator piggybacking off Everything Everywhere’s network (owner of T-Mobile and Orange, and the newly launch EE4G network), and will be launching contract services in the new year, complete with a ‘full range of handsets’. No further details were offered regarding contract and handset pricing, but Rosenfeld assured that they will be market competitive. 4G will also launch ‘as and when it becomes available.’ The MVNO’s retail operations will remain completely online to reduce overheads. To overcome the lack of retail store frontage, the company is utilising the charities themselves to help push out the message. Customers can get a partner code which can then be used to sign up for a free TPO SIM.
[image: Tom Gutteridge – co-founder and vice-chair]
