Openreach has said it will install broadband for free to UK households on Universal Credit that have no other earnings.
The company – which is owned by BT – would usually charge ISPs such as Sky or TalkTalk for connecting households to broadband, but the waiving of this installation charge as part of the ‘Connect the Unconnected’ offer means that it’s estimated about one million people could save up to £92, depending on how internet firms pass on the saving.
According to an Ofcom report published in July, two million households struggle to afford internet access.
These households cannot afford to pay the fees that the likes of Sky, Virgin Media or TalkTalk charge for connecting households to broadband.
The report noted that some ISPs had introduced low-cost tariffs for people on benefits, or improved existing ones, but it said take-up had been low and had only reached at most 1% of those in receipt of out-of-work benefits.
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It suggested that if the industry did not do more, there would be a strong case for “exploring whether mandatory social tariffs would be necessary to fill the gaps in support, alongside other potential options”.
Our ‘Connect the Unconnected’ offer is designed to help those most at risk when not connected to our #network – an estimated one million people throughout the country. #WeAreOpenreachpic.twitter.com/0zItK17weL
The ‘Connect the Unconnected’ offer will apply to households that receive Universal Credit with zero other earnings, which have not been connected to the Openreach network for the past 90 days.
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Openreach’s decision to waive installation fees for Universal Credit households has been both welcomed and queried by analysts.
A spokesperson from The Good Things Foundation commented: “Access to data is a lifeline. Public services like Universal Credit are already online, and the pandemic has meant more of us are managing our health online through contacting GPs via video call, or making use of the NHS apps.”
Mark Jackson – Editor-in-Chief of broadband news site ISP Review – said the offer was “a positive development” but commented that caveats meant the announcement “may only have a limited impact” and it is yet to be seen how the savings would be passed on.
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Openreach said ISPs can choose to implement the savings to customers in a number of ways, either by cutting costs up front or over the course of a contract.
Speaking about the new broadband offer, an Openreach spokesperson told the BBC that while the company could not insist that the savings were given to customers, “clearly the right thing to do would be to pass it on”.
Featured Image – Openreach
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Premier League Darts is returning to Manchester’s AO Arena in 2027
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Premier League Darts is confirmed to be returning to Manchester next year.
Now’s your chance to see the youngest world champion in darts history, AKA Warrington’s very-own Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, show us how it’s done, as next year’s BetMGM Premier League Darts lineup has just been announced this week – with various dates confirmed across 17 different cities in the UK and Europe.
And Manchester is one of those cities, as the AO Arena has shared that they are set to host an evening next April, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
This means that we will be lucky enough to witness the biggest names in world darts all under one roof, including headliners Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries, as well as Littler.
Manchester is the only northern city to get the pleasure of hosting the event next year, as Liverpool is also on the lineup, as is Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle, while elsewhere in the UK, the stars will travel to Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and several other major locations.
BetMGM Premier League Darts is to be held on Thursday 8 April at the AO Arena in Manchester, and to avoid being disappointed, fans are advised to register for presale ticket access.
Following a successful season of events in 2026, tickets are expected to be like gold-dust, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.
To access the first wave of tickets, fans must become an active PDCTV Annual Member before 23:59pm on Friday 9 October. Alternatively, general sale is on Thursday 22 October 2026, but make sure not to hang about.
Featured Image – Sandro Halank (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has claimed he wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on fans getting to drink alcohol in football stands.
It’s a ban that’s been in place in the top five tiers of men’s football since 1985, when fears over violence and hooliganism were at their height, but now the Prime Minister has raised the question of whether drinking in football stands – or ‘drinking in sight / view of the pitch’, as it’s known formally – is actually unjust, due to the fact that same rules don’t apply to fans of other sports.
“I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way,” Andy Burnham has declared this week, grabbing headlines in the process.
He continued: “I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different, and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.
“I’m not going to back away from what’s been a long-held view of mine. I don’t see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently.”
The Prime Minister’s comments have been met with mixed response.
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands / Credit: James Kirkup | Julia Nastogadka (via Unsplash)
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), for example, has very much welcomed the idea, saying that it ‘totally agrees’ the legislation is ‘outdated’ and ‘deserves to be reviewed’.
Tom Greatrex, chair of the FSA, said in a statement: “The FSA has always argued that it’s unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match – especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league.”
However, on the flip side, the UK Football Policing Unit said it would be ‘incredibly rash’ to change the rules without proper consultation.
“Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour,” it said in a statement on the matter.
The Prime Minister did state in his initial proposition though that ‘there are different ways it could be done’, hinting that it could be done ‘on a trial basis’ perhaps.
The English Football League (EFL) added that it would be ‘receptive to discussions around reviewing current legislation and permitting alcoholic drinks within view of the pitch’.
No formal details on a review have been confirmed as of yet, so fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates in due course.
The Manc -
8th September 2021 
