Jangala-Get-Box-WiFi-Router
Tech charity Jangala has published a new report that reveals the findings from one of its recent pilot projects with mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media), which provided free WiFi internet access to 429 people in temporary accommodation around Coventry in England. The pilot also worked with local charities, NHS services, and housing associations.
Just to recap. Jangala’s approach involved providing internet-enabling “Get Boxes” to charities and local authorities across the country (here), which has so far delivered free WiFi hotspots to help thousands of people affected by “data poverty” to get online. The Get Boxes are effectively small (book sized) WiFi routers that can each connect up to around 20 people (there’s a larger Big Box unit for connecting up to 5,000 users).
The idea is that these routers can be posted to a user, who can then simply plug it into mains electricity and establish a secure Wi-Fi network instantly – linked back to O2’s mobile broadband (3G / 4G) connectivity, using data from the National Databank.
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The new Digital Lifelines report helps to show why this approach can be so beneficial to those most in need of support, but it also identifies areas where the approach falls short. For example, the report notes how “many end users” ran out of data (25GB allowance) before the month was out, which isn’t surprising given how easy it is to consume that much data on the modern internet.
We should point out that some users were also given unlimited data, and they tended to use about twice as much data than those with a capped allowance.
Rich Thanki, Managing Director at Jangala, said:
“This research vividly highlights the critical role that internet access plays in so many aspects of welfare. We’re thrilled that our Get Box technology, with incredible support from VMO2 and Coventry Council, has been able to positively impact the lives of such a diverse range of digitally-excluded people.”
Nicola Green, Chief Communications and Corporate Affairs Officer at VMO2, said:
“We’re proud that Virgin Media O2’s partnership with Jangala is providing a lifeline to people in need, helping them to get online and access essential online services from applying for accommodation to booking medical appointments or building their skills via online training course, and is helping them to stay in touch with loved ones.”
Learnings from the Pilot Project
➤ Learning 1: Temporary housing residents face a Catch-22 of needing internet without having good access to it.
Residents are penalised if they do not bid weekly for permanent housing, but are often on low incomes and cannot install internet in their temporary homes.
➤ Learning 2: For residents of temporary housing, increased internet access through Get Box resulted in vital social outcomes.
These include improved emotional and mental wellbeing, increased independence and freedom, improved opportunities to learn, increased social connection, increased safety and improved access to essential services.
➤ Learning 3: Many users place ‘essential’ services with equal importance to ‘leisure’ activities.
Users place a high value on connecting to loved ones and streaming services, and to ‘leisure’ activities which are fundamental to a sense of freedom, normalcy and wellbeing. If programme providers and evaluators try to rigidly differentiate activities under ‘essential’ or ‘leisure’ categories, this can undermine the social impact of internet access.
➤ Learning 4: Jangala’s Get Box is especially suited to swiftly addressing gaps in digital access in temporary accommodation settings.
Because it is portable, easy to install and free to end users, it can provide internet quickly to people who need it urgently. Although suitable to a range of contexts, it is especially compatible with supporting temporary accommodation providers to get people the internet they need.
➤ Learning 5: In this Get Box pilot, boxes with unlimited data used more data per month (approximately four times) than Get Box users with limited data.
This is partly because of differences in situational usage, but also because many end users require more data.
➤ Learning 6: Many end users with 25GB of data run out by the end of the month.
End users experience distress and frustration when they run out of data, especially if it is unexpected.
➤ Learning 7: The improved social outcomes of increased internet access are reduced by limited data packages.
Improvements in mental health, freedom and independence and other domains, are inhibited when end users run out of data or must ration their data.
➤ Learning 8: Key elements of the Get Box product and service can be improved to offer a better user experience.
These include visibility of data usage, key design elements and information provided.
The report also includes a bunch of recommendations, such as calling for all temporary housing providers to provide “unlimited” Wi-Fi internet access at a “reasonable speed” for residents, wherever possible (this also goes for other settings where the Get Boxes can be used). This is of course an easy thing to say, but such things invariably carry a cost for network operators that may not always be economically viable to deliver.