Millions of UK Households Urged to Act Swiftly to Avoid Impending Broadband and Mobile Price Increases
Millions of UK households have a critical opportunity to dodge significant mobile and broadband price hikes, potentially saving themselves hundreds of pounds annually. According to a stark warning from Uswitch, a £126 million-per-month financial hit is looming for broadband and mobile customers starting Tuesday, 31 March.
Urgent Call to Switch Providers Before April Deadline
Uswitch experts are urgently advising consumers to take immediate action to beat these price rises before April. An estimated 18 million consumers can avoid the increases by switching providers now. Specifically, eight million broadband customers and 14 million mobile customers are currently out of contract, allowing them to switch providers penalty-free before the hikes take effect.
The spring price increases are projected to add an average of £39.60 to annual broadband bills and an average of £27.60 to yearly mobile bills. However, for those on newer contracts, the rises could be substantially higher, reaching up to £4 per month for broadband and £2.50 per month for mobile services. This translates to an extra £48 and £30 per year, respectively.
Substantial Savings Available Through Switching
Ernest Doku, a telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, emphasized the importance of checking contract status. “With millions of mobile and broadband customers facing price rises this spring, it’s crucial to check your contract status as you could be able to beat the hikes if you act now,” he stated.
Doku highlighted that several providers are offering price freezes until 2027, including Hyperoptic, EE, and Virgin Media for broadband, and Three and Vodafone for mobile services. Switching to these providers now means customers will not be subject to the April price rise.
Even customers currently in contracts who are dissatisfied with their service should explore early-switching options, as some providers offer early-switching credits. The potential savings are substantial: switching can save broadband customers an average of £329, and mobile customers can save an average of £304 by moving from a handset contract to a SIM-only plan.
Competitive Market Drives Strong Deals
Combined, these savings amount to an eye-watering £633 per household. Doku noted, “In broadband especially, the deals we’re seeing at the moment are the strongest they've been in years, as a direct result of fierce competition between providers.”
This situation underscores a critical window for consumers to leverage market competition and secure better rates. With eight million broadband and 14 million mobile customers either out of contract or becoming so before 1 April, the time to act is now to avoid unnecessary financial strain.
