Skinny Jump operates on a high trust model

A partner recently raised a concern about some customers who appear to be swapping their existing internet connection for a Jump connection (including some library staff), simply because it is cheaper; they felt this went against the spirit of the programme, especially at a time when we have a shortage of Jump modems.

Alan Bucheler, who is the Skinny Jump programme lead at the Spark Foundation, responded with an excellent explanation – I am repeating it below:

“As the cost of living increases, we know that for some people paying for an internet connection may seem like a luxury they need to go without, so that they can still afford essentials like food, petrol or rent.  This is why Skinny Jump exists – so that anyone who finds that cost is a barrier to having an internet connection at home can still participate in an increasingly digital world. This is why we operate on a high trust model rather than income testing customers when signing them up to Skinny Jump –  to remove any barriers to people getting connected.  

Jump has a wide range of customers who include families with children, people living in social housing, seniors, refugees and new migrants, people with disabilities, and people on low incomes. Affordability looks different for everyone, which means that some library staff and their households could meet the Skinny Jump eligibility criteria. 

Jump is capped at 210GB a month, which allows customers to do the essentials – like applying for jobs, online learning, banking and emails. However, 210GB is not enough data for streaming services or gaming, and we believe that this data cap acts as a deterrent for customers who are just looking for a cheaper deal on an internet connection. Skinny has a number of commercial plans in market for customers looking for low-cost internet options, that might better suit their needs.”