Millions of broadband and mobile customers are being hit by price hikes of up to 17.3% - but you may be able to slash your bill now.
Under current rules, telecom companies are allowed to increase prices mid-contract in line with inflation, plus up to 3.9% extra on top of this.
The rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation for December or Retail Price Index (RPI) for January are normally used to decide these price rises.
CPI inflation for December stood at 10.5% and some companies will increase bills by this amount - with 3.9% extra on top, this means some firms will hike prices by 14.4%.
Meanwhile, the rate of RPI for January was confirmed to be 13.4% - meaning possible rises of 17.3% if you include the additional 3.9%.
The first major bill increase started on March 31 but it all really depends on when you normally receive your bill.
If you’re out of contract and you’re unhappy with the price rises, there are ways to lower your bill. We explain below.
Here are all the major providers that have confirmed how much their bills are going up by - and when.
BT
BT has confirmed “the majority” of its broadband and landline customers will see prices rise by 14.4% (CPI plus 3.9%) from March 31, 2023.
This increase will also apply to all mobile and TV customers from the same date.
The telecoms company said it is freezing prices for certain packages - including its BT Home Essentials, BT Basic and Home Phone Saver deals.
EE
If you’re an EE broadband, landline or mobile customer, your bill will also rise by 14.4% (CPI plus 3.9%).
This is because EE is owned by BT Group.
These price rises will also come into effect from March 31, 2023.
Anyone on the EE Mobile Basics or a pay-as-you go deal will see their prices frozen - so your bill won’t rise this year.
O2
O2 customers will be hit with price hikes of up to 17.3%.
The increase will apply to SIM-only customers, or the airtime part of your bill - so what you pay for minutes, texts and data - if you're on a Refresh deal.
Refresh packages charges separately for your airtime and device. What you pay for your device will remain the same.
Customers who are mid-contract will see their airtime bill increase from April 1, 2023.
If you're a Refresh customer, the overall extra cost will be less than 17.3% as only part of your bill is rising - O2 told The Mirror the average hike will be around 10%.
Anyone who took out a new deal or upgraded before March 25, 2021, will see their bill go up by 13.4% in line with RPI.
Plusnet
Plusnet is also owned by BT Group - so prices for broadband, landline and mobile customers will go up by 14.4% (CPI plus 3.9%).
This will kick in from March 31, 2023.
If you're a broadband and landline customer who signed up before October 7, 2020, the 14.4% increase will only apply to call costs.
But when your contract expires, the increase will apply against your entire bill.
TalkTalk
TalkTalk broadband and landline customers will see their bills go up by 14.2% (CPI plus 3.7%) from April 1, 2023.
If you're a Fixed Price Plus customer who is out of their minimum contract period, your bill will rise by 10.5% in line with inflation.
TalkTalk says it will protect "vulnerable" customers from price rises by freezing the price of their current bill.
Three
If you're a Three customer, how much your bill will rise by largely depends on when you took out a contract with the company.
Your bill will go up by 14.4% (CPI plus 3.9%) from April 1, 2023, for broadband and mobile customers who joined or upgraded from November 1, 2022.
Three said "the majority" of its contract customers will see bills increase by 4.5%. This applies to customers who joined between October 29, 2020 and October 21, 2022.
Broadband and mobile users who signed up before October 29, 2020 and haven't upgraded will be subject to price rises in line with the January RPI figure.
Sky
Sky is hiking its broadband and TV prices by 8.1% on average for millions of customers from April 1, 2023.
Customers who are signed up to a cheaper Sky social tariff won't be affected by the price increases.
Sky Glass and Stream customers who are in contract also won't see their bills rise while they are still in their contract period.
Sky Mobile users who are out of contract will see their prices rise by 9% on average from February 14.
The telecoms giant told The Mirror the average bill rise will be £1 a month - so £12 a year.
If you're still in contract with Sky Mobile, your price won't change as Sky has a promise not to introduce mid-contract price rises.
Virgin
Virgin Mobile customers will see bills rise by 17.3% from April 1, 2023.
This applies to SIM-only customers and the airtime part of your bill if you're a Freestyle customer.
The handset part of your bill will remain at the same price.
Like with O2 customers - as O2 and Virgin are part of the same company - the actual overall increase you pay will be less than 17.3%.
This is due to how bills are split up, with the price rise only affecting the airtime part of what you pay.
Virgin Media customers with broadband, landline and TV will see their prices go up by 13.8% on average from April or May.
Most vulnerable users will not see their prices change in 2023.
This includes those on our Essential Broadband packages, as well as Talk Protected landline customers.
Vodafone
Vodafone has confirmed mobile users - including pay monthly and SIM-only customers - will face a bill increase of 14.4% from April 1, 2023.
This applies to anyone who signed up between December 9, 2020 and February 23, 2023.
Those who signed up before December 9, 2020, will see a bill rise of 13.8%, also from April 1, 2023.
If you're on a Vodafone Evo plan, the increase will only apply to your airtime plan - what you pay for calls, texts and data.
Vodafone mobile customers who signed up after February 23, 2023, won't face any price rises until next April.
For broadband users, a price increase of 14.4% will apply from April 1, 2023, if you signed up between February 2, 2021 and February 21, 2023.
If you signed up before February 2, 2021, your bill will rise by 13.8% - unless you are on the Vodafone Essentials deal or you identify as a vulnerable customer.
Again, broadband customers who signed up after February 23, 2023, won't face any price rises until next April.
How to cut the cost of your broadband and mobile bill
If your mobile or broadband bill is about to get more expensive, you might be able to cut costs.
If you're out of contract, you're free to leave and go elsewhere - or maybe you want to haggle down your current provider.
There is also no harm in trying to haggle if you're still in contract.
The first thing you should do, is compare prices elsewhere to see what other deals are available.
You'll normally find SIM-only plans are the cheapest.
You can compare prices by using comparison websites such as MoneySupermarket and Uswitch.
Take a look at how many minutes, texts and how much data you currently use, so you can find similar plans that suit your needs.
You may find you're actually paying too much right now for allowances that you're not using.
When haggling, explain the better deals you've seen elsewhere then ask if the company can match or beat that price.
