Minimum Digital Living Standards
This statement refers to the basic level of need for everyone to participate equally in the online world:
Minimum Digital Living Standard (MDLS) — UK
The Minimum Digital Living Standard (MDLS) is a UK benchmark that defines what households need to be digitally included in contemporary society. It is not a luxury standard, but the agreed minimum required to participate safely and confidently in everyday digital life.
Official definition
A minimum digital living standard includes having accessible internet, adequate equipment, and the skills and knowledge people need. It is about being able to communicate, connect and engage with opportunities safely and with confidence.
What the MDLS covers
The MDLS takes a holistic, household-based approach and includes three core elements:
1. Digital goods and services
Households need reliable and affordable access to:
Home broadband (or sufficient mobile data as an alternative)
At least basic digital devices (e.g. smartphones for adults, a larger screen device such as a laptop or tablet for shared use)
Essential digital services such as email, online payments, and access to public and commercial services
2. Digital skills and knowledge
Meeting the standard requires that household members can:
Set up and use devices and internet connections
Carry out everyday online tasks (forms, payments, communication)
Manage data, updates, and basic troubleshooting
Understand online safety, privacy, and risks
3. Confidence and support
The MDLS recognises that people must feel:
Confident using digital tools
Able to seek help when problems arise
Safe navigating online environments, including scams, misinformation, and harmful content
How MDLS was developed
Created using a public consensus method, adapted from the UK Minimum Income Standard methodology
Based on deliberative discussions with households across all four UK nations, including different ages, family types, and urban/rural settings
Reflects real-world norms rather than technical or industry-led definitions of “connectivity”
Purpose of the MDLS
The MDLS is used to:
Measure digital exclusion and inequality
Inform government policy, local authorities, charities, and service providers
Help identify who is below the minimum standard and what support is needed to close the digital divide
In short
The Minimum Digital Living Standard (UK) defines the baseline digital access, devices, skills, and confidence that households need to participate fully in modern society — socially, economically, and civically — without being digitally disadvantaged.
