A new UK virtual mobile network is promising to give 25% of its profits to charity. The People’s Operator (TPO) has set up a separate organisation - the TPO Foundation - that receives 25% of its profits and passes them on to good causes. In addition, customers can ask the TPO Foundation to give 10% of their individual monthly spend directly to a different charitable organisation of their choice.
TPO is already working with charities and community projects including the NSPCC, the Trussell Trust, ChildLine, Islington Giving, Regenerate and Claxton House.
Customers on The People’s Operator network receive free calls and texts to other TPO users. Other UK calls are 12.5p per minute and text messages are 7.5p each, while data is 12.5p/MB. Top-ups cost £10; ‘bundle’ allowances and ‘pay monthly’ tariffs are planned for the future.
Andrew Rosenfeld, chair and co-founder of TPO, said “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.”
TPO is a limited liability partnership funded by AIRNET, a UK registered company owned by entrepreneur Andrew Rosenfeld. The company’s CEO is Alex Franks, who was formerly UK MD for Blyk. Sir Christopher Kelly is Chair of trustees for the TPO Foundation.
The People’s Operator operates via mobile virtual network aggregator Transatel, which works with EE (Everything Everywhere) in the UK.