Connectivity and social housing

With the cost of living crisis and what seems like an endless continuation of household bills rising, affordable internet connectivity has never been more important. Sadly, the cost of broadband in recent years has caused up to one million people to cancel their broadband between May 2022-23. But an enormous number of households are unaware of cheaper broadband deals available on the market, particularly social housing tariffs.

In fact, a study by Uswitch recently found that two-thirds of financially vulnerable households are unaware that low-income broadband tariffs exist. This lack of awareness could be attributed to a lack of transparency, with many social tariff packages not being easily accessed via company websites or advertised effectively. With a commitment to inclusivity, Pulse Fibre recognises the need for more accessible broadband prices for those who need it the most.

Unlocking access with social tariffs

Amid rising costs, Ofcom has encouraged broadband companies to offer social tariffs to ensure internet is affordable for everyone. They are low-cost deals offered to those who are in receipt of benefits such as Universal Credit and Guaranteed Credit. The exact eligibility requirements can vary between broadband providers.

Social tariffs can offer many benefits. They are cheaper than regular packages, with current prices ranging from £10 to £23 and minimal setup costs, if any. You can switch to a social tariff at any time without any associated costs if you are eligible and it costs nothing to leave the tariff before the end of the contract. Finally, social tariff prices will not go up mid-contract, meaning you won’t pay more than what is agreed upon at the start.

The challenges with social tariffs

Unfortunately, social tariffs are not widely advertised from larger broadband providers, and can not be easily found on websites. This means that many households who would benefit from the tariff are unaware they exist. This could explain why only 5% of those who are eligible for social tariffs have it. Luckily, companies are now becoming more transparent with the packages on offer, and therefore this number is increasing.

Aside from the accessibility obstacles, there is also a deficiency in the quality of the internet that is provided on social tariffs. With the discounted price of a social tariff, it can often come with a reduced speed, with the majority of social tariffs averaging 15Mbps to 50Mbps. There is also a large number of social tariffs on offer that are asymmetrical, meaning the upload and download speeds are unequal. This can result in slower upload speed mainly, and with the fast growth of technology, these speeds may not be fast enough for many households.

Pulse Fibre empowering connectivity

Pulse Fibre offers a social housing tariff that provides the same lightning-fast speeds as its regular broadband packages, with equal upload and download speeds. The social tariff has an average speed of 100Mbps, one of the fastest on the market. The tariff also comes with a 40% discount, meaning that whilst it is not the cheapest product on the market, it is the cheapest for price per megabit. The social tariff is advertised on the front page of the website to ensure awareness, and upon contacting us to check eligibility, the process is quick and simple.

Pulse Fibre supplies solutions for developers working on new builds by preactivating the discount before homeowners move in. This means that when a developer informs Pulse Fibre that a plot is social housing, as soon as the occupant moves in and signs up it is automatically discounted, making the process extremely simple.

Pulse Fibre believes that everyone deserves equal opportunities to thrive in today’s digital age. Through its social housing tariff, it is not just providing lightning-fast internet access; it is empowering communities, bridging the digital divide, and fostering a more inclusive society to unlock affordable connectivity for all.