Telecoms provider TalkTalk has confirmed a significant price increase for millions of its customers, set to take effect in the spring of 2026.
What the price rise means for you
From April 2026, affected customers will see their monthly bills increase by £4. This change applies to anyone who joined the provider or re-contracted on or after November 16, 2025. Over a full year, this adds up to an extra £48 on household bills.
For customers who signed or renewed their contracts between August 12, 2024, and November 15, 2025, the previously announced increase of £3 per month will still apply. A TalkTalk spokesperson stated that the change is for new and re-contracting customers only, designed to help fund ongoing service investments.
A wider industry trend
This announcement is part of a broader pattern across the UK's telecoms sector. Both Vodafone and Three have confirmed their own mid-contract price rises for new customers, also scheduled for early 2026.
Vodafone's new increases will see customers paying more for various plans:
- Fixed line broadband deals: £3.50
- SIM-Only Basics plans: £1.50
- Handset airtime and mobile broadband: £2.50
Three is implementing a tiered increase:
- 4GB and below: £1.80
- 5GB to below 100GB: £1.90
- 100GB+: £2.30
- Home broadband: £3.50
Expert criticism and consumer advice
Alex Tofts, a telecoms expert at Broadband Genie, has strongly criticised these industry-wide hikes. He called them "completely unacceptable in the current economic climate and completely out of touch".
Tofts warned that these practices create confusion and add financial strain to households already grappling with the cost of living. He expressed concern that without intervention from regulator Ofcom, customers could soon be facing double-digit annual price increases.
For consumers seeking stability, several providers offer fixed-price deals with no mid-contract increases. For broadband, these include Rebel Internet, Trooli, toob, and YouFibre. For mobile services, providers such as Smarty, giffgaff, Lebara, and VOXI offer similar fixed-price plans.
