Millions of UK households struggle with the cost of getting online as greater Manchester launches roadmap to tackle digital poverty
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Autotrader, Good Things Foundation and the University of Liverpool have today launched a five-year roadmap to make internet access affordable for all, while calling for stronger national action to tackle digital poverty across the UK.
The launch comes as new analysis reveals the scale of the affordability challenge facing households nationwide and former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham puts the “cost of living” at the top of the agenda in next week’s Budget – the first by his Government.
University of Liverpool researchers estimate that 1.1 million UK households living in poverty would be unable to afford even a discounted broadband social tariff, while 5.2 million households spend 3% or more of their income on internet costs alone and 11 million spend the same proportion on telecommunications costs overall.
The findings highlight the growing importance of internet access as a basic necessity, with households increasingly reliant on digital connectivity to access work, education, healthcare, banking and public services.
The roadmap is the result of a six-month project funded by Autotrader and delivered in partnership with Good Things Foundation, the GMCA and the University of Liverpool. It combines regional policy expertise, academic research, private sector insight and community experience to identify practical solutions to digital exclusion that could be adopted across the country.
Building on Greater Manchester’s strong track record of championing digital inclusion, this roadmap identifies what more can be done to ensure no-one is offline due to poverty. Shaped by stakeholder workshops and people with lived experience, the roadmap sets out a practical, evidence-based agenda for the future, suggesting ‘quick wins’, short-to-medium term, and longer term actions in four focus areas:
New analysis of the ONS Living Costs and Food Survey, conducted by the University of Liverpool, estimates that approximately 221,000 households in Greater Manchester spend 3% or more of their income on internet costs alone, while 56,000 households in poverty would be unable to afford even a discounted broadband social tariff.
Digital inclusion is no longer a nice-to-have; it's a prerequisite for participation in modern society. Yet people across Greater Manchester still face barriers to getting online or realising the full benefits of the digital world. This roadmap shows that real change takes collaboration across sectors - charities, the business community and the public sector - to ensure no one is excluded from opportunities simply because they lack digital access.
Internet access is essential. We rely on it to find work, use public transport, manage our money, support kids with school work, and so much more. That’s why we continue to call for UK government leadership and national action to make access affordable for all. What this 5 year roadmap brings to life is the vital role of regional and local cross-sector partnership. Greater Manchester is already on this journey. It’s time to get digital inclusion ‘baked in’ to business as usual - reducing living costs and improving lives.
Vicki Sellick MBE, Chief Executive, Good Things Foundation
Digital costs are a significant material barrier for many households, preventing full access to the digital world. However, digital exclusion is too often seen as everyone’s problem, but no-one’s responsibility. Greater Manchester has helped to change that. This roadmap builds on that record. It is vital that the household costs of internet access are built into wider policy and action to reduce a key barrier to digital inclusion.
Prof. Simeon Yates MBE, University of Liverpool
My commitment as Mayor is to make life easier and more affordable for people across our city region. That must include tackling data poverty and ensuring no one is priced out of the opportunities and support that many of us access online every day. As Mayor, I am expanding the Greater Manchester data bank which will support tens of thousands of residents, so that they can do things like access healthcare, manage their finances and stay connected.” By working in partnership on digital inclusion, we are creating the foundation to end data poverty and build a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life.
Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester
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