The Co-operative Group is entering the mobile market by launching its first own-brand prepaid SIM card in partnership with The Phone Co-op and other co-operatives.
The Co-operative Mobile Pay as you go SIM card will become available in over 3,800 Co-operative stores across the country from this week. It offers highly competitive national and international rates, honest pricing and extensive UK coverage, all in just one SIM card.
The Co-operative Mobile Pay as you go is the first prepaid SIM card in the market provided by co-operatives and is the result of an unprecedented partnership between a number of UK co-operatives: The Phone Co-op, which provides the service; The Co-operative Group and the regional co-operative societies that are part of the Co-operative Retail Trading Group*, which will sell the SIM cards in their stores; and Calverts, a design and print worker co-operative responsible for the packaging and the production of promotional materials.
Steve Murrells, Chief Executive Retail, The Co-operative Group, said: “It is a major milestone for The Co-operative Group to be entering the telecoms sector with its own branded products. We believe that by working with The Phone Co-op we are able to offer one of the most competitive and straightforward mobile pay as you go SIM card packages in the market.
Vivian Woodell, founder and CEO, The Phone Co-op, added: “We’ve been providing telecommunications services for 15 years. We for some time had the ambition of offering a prepaid SIM card. In partnership with The Co-operative Group and other regional co-operatives, who have provided the vital distribution channels that can make this venture a success, we have been able to turn our ambition into a reality. It’s a terrific co-operative partnership that brings a true co-operative product to the market with the result that will have a better alternative.”
The Co-operative Mobile Pay as you go offers one of the most competitive deals in the market, with low cost national and international rates, both combined on the same card, and great coverage – it uses Everything Everywhere (EE), UK’s largest network.
SIM cards can be bought in Co-operative Food stores for 99p. They can also be ordered online free of charge via the peoplesphone.co.uk website.
Get your FREE Co-operative Mobile PAYG SIM here.