Launched today, The People’s Operator (TPO) is a new UK mobile operator that combines great mobile deals, coverage and customer service with the ability to support charities, community groups and other good causes throughout the UK.

TPO matters because:

• Customers get a great mobile deal including free calls and texts to anyone on the TPO network.
• 25% of TPO’s profits go to great causes.
• Either
  Customers can direct TPO to give 10% of their call, text and data spend to a charity, community group or other good cause of their choice.
  
  Or
  Organisations can receive 10% of call, text and data spend in respect of any customers that they sign up to TPO.
• TPO really cares about its customers and their causes.

TPO is the UK’s first commercial utility where 25% of profits go to great causes along with 10% of every customer’s call, text and data spend.

TPO offers corporates a unique opportunity to fulfil their CSR commitments. Simply by switching to TPO, 10% of all call, text and data spend will get directed to their nominated cause.

TPO customers will be given the opportunity to receive updates via their mobile on how their money is being spent by the good causes that they have chosen to support.

TPO is a UK based company whose management and customer service teams are all based in London.

Charities, community groups and other good causes will receive grants from the TPO Foundation, an independent charity whose donations will have the ultimate effect of strengthening society and supporting local communities.

The three founding trustees of the Foundation are Sir Christopher Kelly who is currently the Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and Chair of the King’s Fund; Kevin Curley CBE the former Chief Executive of NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action), trustee of CFG (Charity Finance Group) and a member of the advisory council of the NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations); and Andrew Rosenfeld former Chair of the NSPCC FULL STOP Campaign. Sir Christopher will be the Chair of trustees.

TPO is working with a range of different good causes including charities and community projects throughout the UK such as the NSPCC, the Trussell Trust, ChildLine, Islington Giving, Regenerate, and Claxton House. TPO anticipates a significant uptake in demand over the coming months from similar organisations throughout Britain and further announcements will be made in due course.

Andrew Rosenfeld, Chair and Co-founder of TPO said:

“The People’s Operator represents a fundamental shift in the way commercial utilities support communities and causes. The more profit that is generated, the more we can pass on to deserving parts of society.”

Mark Epstein, Vice-Chair and Co-founder of TPO said:

“TPO offers customers the opportunity to benefit from a great mobile deal while supporting their favourite causes, simply by using their mobiles as they do every day and not giving anything more from their own pocket.”

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

Background:

TPO is privately funded by AIRNET, a UK registered company wholly owned by Andrew Rosenfeld. The co-founders of TPO Andrew Rosenfeld (Chair) Mark Epstein (Vice-Chair) and Tom Gutteridge (Vice-Chair) are the only shareholders in the company.

The co-founders met as a result of their work in relation to communities and the Third Sector.

Andrew has had a long and successful track record in business and charity. Mark and Tom co-founded one of the UK’s leading digital communication companies, Mass1.

Andrew discussed with Mark and Tom the idea of combining traditional methods of engagement with mobile phone technology and over the past year together the three of them have created TPO.

Key Individuals:

Andrew Rosenfeld, Chair and Co-Founder of TPO

A British businessman who was co-founder, Chief Executive and Chairman of Minerva plc, the FTSE 250 property investment and development company, which was founded with an issued share capital of £70,200. Rosenfeld stepped down as Chairman when the Company was valued at around £600 million. He was one of the first entrepreneurs to predict the collapse of the UK real estate market in 2007. He was head of the NSPCC's FULL STOP campaign, raising £250 million, which is the largest sum ever raised in Britain for a single children's appeal. In addition to his business activities, he is now Vice President of the NSPCC and is Chairman of the FULL STOP Fellowship.

Mark Epstein, Vice-Chair and Co-founder of TPO

A British businessman and expert in mobile communications. He is co-founder and CEO of Mass1 Ltd one of the UK’s leading communication companies.

Tom Gutteridge, Vice-Chair and Co-founder of TPO

A creative entrepreneur and an expert in digital communications. He is co-founder of Mass1 Ltd one of the UK’s leading communication companies.

Alex Franks, CEO of TPO

Alex has 15 years experience in the telecoms and media industry. Prior to joining The People's Operator, Alex spent five years at Blyk launching and later managing the world's first ad funded MVNO. Alex was chosen by the readers of Global Telecoms Business as one of the 40 most impressive leaders of the telecoms industry under the age of 40 in 2011 and 2012.

About The People’s Operator

The People’s Operator (TPO) is a new UK mobile operator that combines great mobile deals, coverage and customer service with the ability to support charities, community groups and other good causes throughout the UK. TPO works with Transatel, one of Europe’s largest mobile virtual network aggregators and is a UK company whose management team and customer service are all based in London. TPO is privately funded by AIRNET, a UK registered company wholly owned by Andrew Rosenfeld.