Take-up of discounted broadband for people on benefits remains below 1 in 10 eligible households, Ofcom's 2026 pricing report found — even as more providers than ever offer one.
Ofcom's latest Pricing Trends report puts social tariff take-up at 532,000 households out of an estimated 4–8 million eligible — still under 10%. The regulator's own figure for the reason is blunt: roughly seven in ten eligible households say they have never heard that a cheaper tariff exists for them.
The supply side has improved: broadband social tariffs have grown from three providers in 2020 to more than 30 by the end of 2025, and most major providers now offer one. The gap is now almost entirely about awareness, not availability.
Check who qualifies and how to switch on our Get help page — it takes a few minutes and does not require waiting for a current contract to end.
The Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme, worth up to £5,000 towards a faster connection, closes to new applications on 20 November 2026. In Aberdeenshire alone, 2,089 premises are still eligible and have not used it.
WIRES has sent its submission to the Competition and Markets Authority's inquiry into BT's purchase of TalkTalk, asking that any approval protects prices, guarantees access to a social tariff and recognises the greater effect in rural Scotland. The full text is here. Comments closed on 9 October; the CMA reports by 19 October.
We read the published digital strategies of Scotland's 32 councils. Of the 24 we could verify, only Glasgow has a standalone strategy on digital exclusion. In 22, it is a theme inside a plan about the council's own services. Eight we couldn't confirm.
Join the mailing list for campaign updates, event notices, and new articles.
