In a bid to bolster data-driven policy decisions, Virgin Media O2 Business has joined forces with the Office for National Statistics (ONS), offering anonymized and aggregated O2 Motion data to be integrated into the Integrated Data Service (IDS).
The IDS, a cloud-based platform facilitating access to a vast data repository for governmental bodies, aims to enable informed decision-making across various sectors including public health, regional development, climate change, employment, and skills.
The anonymized data provided by Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) will furnish insights at both national and local levels, shedding light on population dynamics, travel patterns, and other crucial movement trends.
Although IDS is currently in public beta, it is slated to witness a rapid expansion of data releases in the forthcoming months, accompanied by a lineup of additional capabilities.
Furthermore, O2 Motion data will be amalgamated with ONS surveys and administrative data sources to produce a range of publications covering topics such as small area population estimates. These publications will be made accessible to the public through the ONS website as part of regular releases.
Geoff Wappett, Head of AI and Data Insights at Virgin Media O2 Business, expressed pride in the extended partnership with ONS, emphasizing the role of aggregated and anonymized O2 Motion data in empowering governmental organizations to tackle societal challenges efficiently.
While VMO2 routinely publishes reports based on its collected data, focusing on commuter patterns, traffic spikes, and holiday destinations, the integration of this data into IDS holds promise for more comprehensive and informed decision-making by policymakers.
The move signifies a step forward in leveraging big data for societal benefit, offering policymakers enhanced tools to navigate the complexities of governance and address pressing issues effectively.
