Exactly how much your broadband and mobile bill will rise by this April – from BT to Vodafone
A ban on “confusing” mid-contract broadband and mobile price rises will come into force later this month – but experts have warned some customers could still be hit with “unfair” bill increases.
Telecom firms are being banned by Ofcom from linking mid-contract price rises to inflation – instead, customers must be told in “pounds and pence” how much their bill will increase by. This will officially come into force from January 17.
Under the old rules, broadband and mobile companies were allowed to increase prices mid-contract every April in line with inflation, plus up to 3.9% extra on top of this. This saw millions of households hit by huge bill increases in 2023 of up to 17.3% after inflation surged to a 41-year high that year.
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However, consumer experts have warned that those on cheaper contracts might not be better off under the shake-up, given that inflation is now much lower. Inflation sat at 2.6% in November. Andrew Ferguson, editor of thinkbroadband.com, told The Sun that someone who pays £24.99 a month for broadband, and is set to see their contract rise by £3 a month, would be paying more than they would if their price rise was linked to inflation.
If their bill went up by 6.5% – this is based on that November inflation figure, plus 3.9% – they would be paying an extra £1.62 a month. But for someone on a more expensive contract that costs £59.99 a month, a £3 rise would be cheaper than linking their price rise to inflation, which would equal an extra £3.89 a month.
An Ofcom spokesperson previously said: "Inflation might be low now, but as we've seen in recent years, it can be incredibly volatile, and we don't think consumers should bear that risk. Our intervention means customers will have certainty and clarity upfront about the prices they will pay, so they can compare offers and select the best deal for them."
How much will your broadband and mobile bill rise by?
BT: If you're a mobile customer, your price will rise by £1.50 a month from April, while TV customers will pay £2 a month more, and broadband customers will pay an extra £3 a month. Out-of-bundle services will be subject to an annual 5% increase. There will be no increases for customers who are financially vulnerable or on a BT Home Essentials package.
EE: Mobile customers will see their bill rise by £1.50 a month from April, while TV customers will pay £2 a month more, and broadband customers will pay an extra £3 a month. Out-of-bundle services will be subject to an annual 5% increase. There will be no increases for customers who are financially vulnerable or on a EE Basics package.
O2: O2 customers will see their airtime bill increase by £1.80 a month from April, but their monthly device repayments will remain frozen at a fixed price. Mobile broadband and smart watch customers will see a price rise of 75p. Customers on social tariffs and pay-as-you-go customers won't be subject to price increases.
Plusnet: Plusnet customers will pay £3 a month more for broadband from April.
Three: Three mobile customers will see their bills increase this April by between £1 and £1.50 a month, depending on your data allowance. Your bill will rise by £1 a month if your data allowance is 4GB or less, or £1.25 a month if your data allowance is between 5GB and 99GB, or £1.50 a month if your data allowance is 100GB or more. Three broadband customers will see their monthly bill rise capped at £2 a month.
Virgin Media: Virgin Media customers will see their prices rise by £3.50 a month from each April. This won't apply to customers on social tariffs.
Vodafone: Vodafone broadband customers will see their bills rise by £3 a month from April, while mobile phone customers will see their prices rise by either £1 a month or £1.80 a month, depending on their contract. Customers who are identified as financially vulnerable, are on social tariffs, and pay-as-you-go customers, won't see their prices rise.
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