Company type | Limited liability partnership |
---|---|
Industry | Telecommunications |
Founded | 19 November 2012 |
Defunct | 26 February 2019 |
Fate | Defunct |
Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
Key people | Sam Tillotson (Acting CEO), Michael Butler ( chairman) |
Products | Mobile telephony |
Website | thepeoplesoperator tpo |
The People's Operator (or TPO Mobile) was a mobile virtual network operator that provided mobile phone services in the United Kingdom via Three[1] (though TPO had initially selected EE), and in the United States via the Sprint and T-Mobile networks. It was launched in 2012, with the stated aim of being an ethical mobile network operator. TPO said that their service gave private customers the opportunity to support good causes, charities, nonprofits, "progressive organisations"[2] or "ethical groups"[3] of their choice and receive updates on how their money was being spent, while businesses could fulfill their corporate social responsibility commitments.[4] The company's stock lost nearly 90 percent in value in the year and a half after its launch.[5] Trading of The People's Operator stock on the London exchange was suspended in July 2018, after the company failed to provide its 2017 financial reports.[6] In December 2018, the company received a cash infusion from the holding company that was majority owner of Lycamobile.[7] On 13 February 2019, TPO announced it had entered administration; its stock ceased trading on 26 February 2019.[8]