The mobile and broadband providers hiking prices – and the ones who aren’t

Millions of people will see their mobile and broadband bills rise in the coming months when providers adjust their prices to keep up with increasing service costs.

We’ve looked at who’s putting their prices up – and who’s decided to keep them the same.

Why are prices going up?

Prices traditionally increase around March or April, often linked to inflation. This year, things are a bit different.

Ofcom's new rules, set on 17 January, mean providers have to tell you how much your bill will go up by in clear pound and pence amounts.

But if you signed a contract before a specific date, your bills may still rise in line with inflation.

This can all get a bit complicated, so let’s break it down.

Key info by provider

BT and EE

Your bills will go up from 31 March.

If you signed up before 11 April 2024, your bill will rise by December’s CPI rate of inflation (2.5%) plus 3.9%, totalling a 6.4% increase. For example, if you’re currently paying £10, your new bill will be £10.64 from 31 March.

Those who signed a deal after 11 April will see:

• SIM-only plans rise by £1.50
• handset plans rise by £4

Community Fibre

Community Fibre increases will take place from 1 April:

• Contracts signed before 5 November will see their bills rise based on January’s CPI rate of inflation plus 2.9%.
• New contracts will see a £2 increase.

O2

O2 is set to increase mobile tariffs from 1 April:

• If you signed up before 9 January this year, your contract will rise based on January’s RPI rate of inflation plus 3.9%.
• New SIM-only deals from 9 January onwards will see a flat increase of £1.80.
• Handset plans will not see any price rise from 1 April.

Plusnet

Plusnet will hike broadband prices from 31 March:

• Contracts signed before 11 July last year will see a 6.4% rise.
• New contracts will see a £3 increase.

Sky Mobile

Sky Mobile is increasing prices for up to a million customers from 14 February:

• Pay monthly and SIM-only contracts will see a fixed increase of £1.50 for those out of contract.
• Customers within their contract will not see any changes.

TalkTalk

TalkTalk is joining the price hike trend on 1 April:

• Contracts taken out before 12 August 2024 will rise by 6.4%.
• New contracts will see a £3 increase.

Tesco Mobile

Tesco Mobile customers will also face increases starting in April:

• Contracts signed before 17 December will see a 6.4% rise.
• Deals from 17 December will rise based on a “proportional” model, with specific amounts varying by tariff.
• Clubcard customers won’t face mid-contract increases.

Three

Three will hike mobile phone contract prices from 1 April:

• If you signed up before 8 September 2024, expect a rise of 6.4%.
• New contracts signed after this date will increase by £1 to £1.50, depending on your data usage.
• Broadband customers on old contracts will see the same 6.4% rise, while newer contracts see a flat £2 increase.

Vodafone

Vodafone will also introduce price hikes on 1 April:

• Contracts taken out before 2 July 2024 will rise based on January’s CPI rate of inflation plus 3.9%.
• New deals after this date will see increases of £1 for basic plans and £1.50 for others.

Price-freeze champions

Not all providers are hiking their prices – here are the ones staying the same:

• Asda Mobile (Vodafone)
• Giffgaff (O2)
• Lebara (Vodafone)
• Lycamobile (EE)
• SMARTY (Three)
• spusu (EE)
• Superdrug Mobile (Three)
• Talkmobile (Vodafone)
• VOXI (Vodafone)
• Hyperoptic (broadband)

How to lower your costs

With all these increases, it’s worth exploring ways to save on your mobile and broadband bills:

• Check if you can switch providers for a better deal. Research shows out-of-contract customers could save an average of £160 by switching.
• Consider haggling with your current provider; customers who do save an average of £117.
• If you’re on certain benefits like universal credit, social tariffs can save you up to £456 a year.
• Bundled packages for TV, broadband and phone can often be cheaper than separate deals.