TalkTalk Price Rise: What It Means for Customers in 2025

TalkTalk has announced a new mid-contract price rise policy that will increase customer bills by £4 per month every April, starting from 16 November 2025 for all new and re-contracting broadband users. This places TalkTalk among several major UK broadband providers that have already moved to higher fixed annual price rises, replacing the old CPI-linked model that increased bills by a percentage rather than a flat fee.

With BT, EE, Plusnet, Virgin Media and Vodafone already introducing similar increases, many households are now facing above-inflation monthly bills throughout their broadband contracts. This guide explains exactly what TalkTalk’s change means, who it affects, why the rise is happening, and what options customers have if they want to avoid higher broadband costs.

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What exactly is TalkTalk changing in 2025?

From 16 November 2025, all TalkTalk broadband contracts taken out or renewed will include a flat £4 monthly increase every April. This replaces the previous £3 rise and moves away from percentage-based annual uplifts linked to inflation.

How the new £4 increase works

If you joined TalkTalk at £28 per month:

• April 2026 → £32 per month
• April 2027 → £36 per month
• April 2028 → £40 per month

These increases apply whether you are mid-contract or out-of-contract, meaning both new and existing customers will see higher bills unless they choose not to renew after their term ends.

TalkTalk says the change reflects inflationary pressures, investments in its broadband network and rising wholesale costs from suppliers such as Openreach.

Which TalkTalk customers are affected?

1. Customers joining or renewing from 16 November 2025

These customers will face the full £4 annual price rise.

2. Customers who joined between 12 August 2024 and 15 November 2025

These households remain on the older £3 per month annual increase.

3. Customers who joined before 12 August 2024

These customers stay on the CPI-linked formula:
January CPI rate + 3.7%, applied every April.

This creates an unusual three-tier system that will affect TalkTalk households differently depending on their signup date.

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Why is TalkTalk increasing its broadband prices?

TalkTalk says the rise is driven by:

• Higher investment costs across the UK broadband sector
• Rising Openreach wholesale charges
• Greater network usage from customers streaming more content
• Long-term inflationary pressures
• Funding upgrades to fibre infrastructure

TalkTalk’s official statement explains:

“Due to inflation in recent years, not only have investment costs increased, but the regulated wholesale prices we pay our suppliers have gone up too.”

This echoes statements already made by BT, EE, Plusnet, Virgin Media and Vodafone, suggesting this is part of a broader industry shift.

How TalkTalk’s price rise compares with other major providers

Many broadband providers have recently moved away from CPI-based increases and towards fixed cash rises.

The upward trend is clear: most major networks are adding higher mid-contract increases to broadband bills, often exceeding inflation.

Why fixed £4 increases hit lower-cost plans harder

A £4 increase affects different customers in different ways:

• Someone on a £22 per month plan sees an 18% increase
• Someone on a £45 per month plan sees a less than 9% increase

Under the old CPI+ models, cheaper plans saw much smaller rises because the percentage was applied to a lower base cost.

For example, if CPI was 2.5%:

• CPI + 3.7% = 6.2% total rise
• 6.2% of £22 = £1.37
• 6.2% of £45 = £2.79

This means lower-cost households are now paying significantly more than they would have under CPI-based pricing.

Consumer groups argue that flat-rate increases disproportionately affect those on tighter budgets, a concern that has already reached Ofcom and the Government.

Is TalkTalk allowed to raise prices mid-contract?

Yes — under current Ofcom rules, providers can include annual price increases if:

• They are clearly explained to customers at the time of signup
• They are written into the contract terms
• The customer is made aware before agreeing

However, Ofcom is under pressure to re-examine mid-contract changes, especially those that exceed inflation and affect lower-income households more severely.

Several consumer bodies argue that applying fixed cash increases during a contract — when customers cannot leave without penalties — may not offer enough protection.

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Why are mid-contract price rises happening across the industry?

There are several reasons broadband providers are making these changes, including:

Higher wholesale and infrastructure costs

Openreach charges for broadband access, maintenance and fibre rollout have risen in recent years.

Ongoing fibre broadband investment

Providers are upgrading customers to faster, more reliable fibre networks.

Market-wide strategy shifts

BT Group set the tone by raising its increase to £4, followed by EE and Plusnet, and the rest of the industry has now aligned.

Push to simplify contracts

Fixed rises are easier for customers to understand, compared with CPI+ formulas.

Increased customer usage

Demand for bandwidth has soared due to streaming, gaming, homeworking and multiple devices per household.

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Real-world examples of TalkTalk’s new pricing impact

Example 1: Basic Fibre Plan – £22 per month

• April 2026 → £26
• April 2027 → £30
• April 2028 → £34

Total increase over three years: £12 per month more
Percentage rise from original: 54%

Example 2: Fibre 65 Plan – £28 per month

• April 2026 → £32
• April 2027 → £36
• April 2028 → £40

Total increase over three years: £12 per month more
Percentage rise: 43%

Example 3: Full Fibre 150 – £45 per month

• April 2026 → £49
• April 2027 → £53
• April 2028 → £57

Total increase over three years: £12 per month more
Percentage rise: 27%

Lower-cost plans see the highest percentage change.

What can TalkTalk customers do to avoid these rises?

1. Switch broadband provider

When your contract ends, you can move to another provider that:

• Offers cheaper monthly prices
• Has lower mid-contract increases
• Has no mid-contract rises at all
• Provides better full fibre broadband speeds for the same cost

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2. Negotiate a better renewal price

Some customers can negotiate a discount when re-contracting, offsetting the £4 rise.

3. Move to a provider with no mid-contract increases

Several smaller fibre networks and mobile-based broadband providers promise fixed prices for the entire contract.

4. Choose a 30-day rolling contract

Rolling contracts cost more each month but avoid long-term increases.

5. Check if you’re eligible for social tariffs

If you receive certain benefits, low-cost broadband plans may help stabilise your bills.

How TalkTalk’s price rise fits into wider 2025 broadband trends

Broadband pricing in 2025 has been shaped by several national trends:

Rising wholesale network costs

Openreach, CityFibre and other fibre networks are investing heavily in full fibre rollouts, driving higher charges to ISPs.

Government pressure on Ofcom

The Government has repeatedly urged Ofcom to review how providers apply mid-contract increases.

Consumer frustration

Many broadband users feel they cannot avoid price rises because they are tied into long contracts.

Fixed increases replacing CPI formulas

Most major networks have now adopted simple, flat-rate rises.

Above-inflation uplifts

Fixed rises in 2025 often exceed what customers would have paid under CPI+ models.

These changes highlight the importance of comparing broadband providers before signing a long-term contract.

Additional factors influencing broadband price hikes in 2025

Beyond the core changes announced by TalkTalk, there are several other market forces contributing to price hikes across the UK broadband sector. The majority of broadband customers now face some form of annual increase, whether they are with a large national provider or a smaller altnet network.

Impact of inflation on broadband pricing

While TalkTalk and other providers are moving towards fixed cash increases, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) still influences how many broadband companies frame their pricing decisions. Even though the new £4 increase is not tied to CPI, broadband providers monitor the rate of inflation closely to determine the future price of their broadband packages and the duration of their contract terms.

Under CPI-linked rules, customers could at least predict rises based on official Government data. With fixed rises, these increases may now exceed real-world inflation, especially at times when CPI is low.

Impact on new customers joining TalkTalk

The price rise also affects new customers, who will see the £4 increase written into their point of sale documentation, purchase journey and order confirmation email. Once the new terms are applied, all broadband packages will specify the exact annual rise, regardless of price tier, speed or whether the service includes a landline, TV add-ons or faster fibre tiers.

New customers must take extra care to read the fine print before selecting their broadband service, especially if they plan to stay with TalkTalk for several years.

How mid-contract increases affect switching behaviour

Many households now review their current provider as soon as their current contract ends. The rise in annual price hikes encourages customers to compare alternatives, including networks like Trooli, smaller full fibre providers and low-cost options that provide more stable pricing. Switching can also improve internet connection quality, increase download speeds and reduce overall costs in the long term.

Providers will increasingly compete on broadband packages that emphasise fixed-rate pricing, flexible terms, or bundled features such as TV or landline services.

Why broadband customers need to review their contract terms carefully

With annual price hikes becoming the norm, broadband customers should review:

• The exact timing of the yearly £4 increase
• Whether rises continue after the minimum term
• Whether CPI applies in any circumstances
• If TV or landline add-ons trigger separate increases
• Whether their package includes any pence-per-minute call charges
• Whether switching provides a better overall package

Reading the full contract, including any price rise clauses, helps households avoid unexpected increases on both broadband and associated products.

Correct as of 20 November 2025

FAQs About TalkTalk’s £4 Broadband Price Rise