MobileManDan
With COVID-19 keeping many children away from their education in schools right now, it has been important to get them access to learning in new ways via the internet.
There are many sites being set up to offer a wide range of learning tools so they do not get left behind, but access to this information can come at a cost such as mobile data charges.
This is where BT have stepped in and offered access to Oak National Academy with what is known as zero rated charges by the end of January.
Zero rated is the term used when access to certain information does not come out of your data allowances, so even on a low data plan or PAYG, you can still access this vital content and not worry about the cost.
Thankfully the BT group of mobile networks will all offer this service, that means EE, BT Mobile as well as Plusnet Mobile.
Here is the full press release from BT for more information.
— Press Release —
BT adds to ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme by removing mobile data charges for Oak National Academy
- EE, BT Mobile, and Plusnet Mobile customers to have free unlimited access to Oak Academy content by the end of January
- Zero rating of popular educational websites forms part of BT’s ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme announced last week
- Announcement follows partnership with BBC to zero rate access to BBC Bitesize content
19th January 2021, BT has announced it will increase support for families learning from home by adding zero rating of Oak National Academy content to its ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme by the end of January. The content will be free for all EE, BT Mobile, and Plusnet Mobile customers, while face to face teaching is paused.
The partnership follows hot on the heels of BT’s announcement last week that it will zero rate BBC Bitesize content. By the end of the month customers of EE, BT Mobile and Plusnet Mobile accessing online lessons in Oak National Academy’s virtual classroom or on BBC Bitesize, can watch as many online lessons as they need, even if they have run out of data.
Marc Allera, CEO BT Group’s Consumer division said: “We’re rapidly boosting our ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme by zero rating access to BBC Bitesize and now Oak National Academy for all our mobile customers.
“Our inclusive support package means families that need it most can get help to keep learning, with unlimited data, free access to our 5 million WiFi hotspots and now free access to the two most popular educational resources.
And to make sure that we are keeping children across the whole of the UK connected, we’re also asking Ministers in Wales, Scotland and NI to work with us on offering Unlimited data for eligible customers, as well as potential zero rating of other regionalised educational resources.”
BT is doing all it can to help support the nation during lockdown. Last week it unveiled its ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme, working with the Department for Education to ensure school children can continue to learn online while face to face learning is paused. BT will be giving those children who need it most unlimited mobile data as well as handing out thousands of free WiFi vouchers to schools and charity partners to distribute to families without an internet connection. The vouchers give access to the internet via BT’s five million WiFi Hotspots across the UK.
