How rises in monthly broadband charges will look for all users

Don’t bother checking the small print because increasing bills mid-contract may be unfair on you but it’s perfectly legal – four companies refuse to exercise right to up the cost

With the cost of living continuing to rise, homeowners up and down the country are seeing their monthly bills inflate – and broadband prices are following the trend.

Experts at Independent Advisor Broadband have revealed the providers with the highest increase in prices and explain how these increases will look for the average UK billpayer.

Rachel Sadler, home technology expert at Independent Advisor Broadband, said: “To help you understand the increase in costs that you may see, we have revealed the UK broadband providers with the biggest price increase in April 2024”

Broadband providers, April price increases Virgin Media – 8.8%

BT – 7.9%

Vodafone – 7.9%

Plusnet – 7.9%

Three – 7.9%

KCOM – 7.9%

Zzoomm – 7.9%

EE – 7.9%

TalkTalk – 7.7%

Gigaclear – 7.5%

Shell Energy Broadband – 7.0%

Community Fibre – 6.9% Box Broadband – 6.9%

Sky – 6.7%

Zen – 0%

Hyperoptic – 0%

Fibrus – 0%

BeFibre – 0%

Virgin Media is the broadband provider with the largest increase coming in April this year, with an 8.8% price hike. This is based on the RPI rate of 4.9% from February, plus an additional 3.9% on top of that. You can’t cancel mid-way through your contract with Virgin Media without incurring early disconnection fees, which are capped at £288 if you were a customer before the April 4 price increase.

Next up, we have a host of broadband providers who have all opted to go for the templated CPI rate from February of 4% and an additional 3.9% increase, for a total of 7.9%. Among these providers are big names such as BT, Vodafone and Three, as well as KCOM who almost has a monopoly on the broadband service in Hull. And as with Virgin Media, you cannot cancel your contract with these providers without incurring early termination fees.

TalkTalk has the thirdbiggest price increase to come among broadband providers this April, with a 7.7% increase. This is based on the CPI rate of 4% and they have added on an additional 3.7% to further cover their running costs. Once again, with TalkTalk, you cannot cancel mid-contract without being charged early termination fees.

How increases will look for the average UK monthly broadband bill:

Average UK broadband bill – £30

BT, Vodafone, Plusnet, Three, KCOM, Zzoomm, EE – £32,37

TalkTalk – £32.31 Gigaclear – £32.25

Shell Energy Broadband – £32.10

Community Fibre and Box Broadband – £32.07

Sky Broadband – £32.01

The average UK broadband bill has been reported to be £30 a month, though this can vary depending on your package and broadband speed, as well as your provider.

Four broadband providers in the UK – Zen Broadband, Hyperoptic, Fibrus and BeFibredo not have any planned price increases in April.