Ethical phone company The People’s Operator (TPO) is set to list in London as it plans its global expansion.
The London-based company provides both pay-as-you-go and monthly mobile service in a belief that users should “get a top service and make a massive difference at the same time”.
TPO passes 10% of each customer’s bill directly to causes chosen by the customer and 25% of the Company’s profits will go to the TPO Foundation, which will distribute them to good causes.
From Wales to the USA
The business plans to float on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market in November and will use the investment to springboard its global expansion.
Jimmy Wales joined the company as co-chair in January and announced that the business was planning a US launch.
The Wikipedia founder believes that the ethical business model can make “a massive difference to people’s lives”.
Speaking earlier this year, Wales also forecasted substantial growth for the company.
With over 4 billion mobile phone subscribers forecast for 2016 worldwide, TPO has huge potential for viral growth and the more it grows, the more money will pass to the people and communities that need it.
Just as Wikipedia grew virally as communities wanted to work together to liberate knowledge, I believe TPO will grow in a similar way as communities work together to support good causes across the globe.
Wikipedia’s London presence
Despite being born in Alabama, Wales now lives full-time in Lond0n.
His presence no doubt helped bring the Wikimania conference to the British capital for the first time this year.
At the conference, he spoke to Tech City News about his views on the European ‘Right to be Forgotten’ ruling, describing it as a “blunt instrument”.