Upcoming price rises mean some customers will soon be paying more for their broadband
BT has issued a major announcement regarding its annual price increase, with customers facing higher bills in the coming weeks. The company has confirmed that some BT and EE broadband customers will move to the ‘pounds and pence’ pricing structure and face a £4 monthly increase to their bills from March 1.
This change affects out-of-contract customers and comes following pressure on telecommunications companies to adopt transparent pricing models rather than inflation-based increases. Alex Tofts, broadband expert at comparison site Broadband Genie, warned the change could have a ‘disproportionate impact’ but shared advice on how consumers can reduce their costs.
“While the ‘pounds and pence’ flat fee may sound more straightforward, it has a disproportionate impact on customers with lower monthly bills, meaning many will actually pay more under this structure than before,” he said. “BT and EE customers won’t be entering into a new contract, so we advise out-of-contract customers to review their options and look for a cheaper alternative.
“While price rises may be unavoidable for many, switching can reduce your overall monthly bill.”
One alternative available to consumers is moving to a more affordable provider such as Sky, which is currently running its 2026 winter sale. Sky’s 24-month broadband packages currently begin at £25 per month for 75Mbps, in contrast to BT’s £24.99 36Mbps package, reports the Mirror.
Sky Broadband January Sale
Sky’s 2026 January sale has seen prices drop to £25 per month for 75Mbps, through to £35 for 900Mbps.
Faster speeds are priced at £30 for 500Mbps and £35 for 900Mbps. A crucial aspect of Sky’s approach is that, whilst it also raises its tariffs annually, it maintains the conventional percentage-based increment system.
The company has yet to reveal its price changes for this year, but in 2025, its TV and broadband costs increased by an average of 6.2%. While nothing has been confirmed, a comparable rise could be expected to take effect in April 2026.
This suggests that subscribers on a Sky broadband deal, such as its £26 150Mbps Full Fibre, may see their monthly payments climb by roughly £1.60 – considerably lower than the £4 hike coming to BT and EE members. An additional advantage of Sky is that customers tied into a broadband agreement can terminate their contract within 30 days of receiving notification about price rises without incurring any early exit charges.
Sky says it will send detailed notifications regarding any alterations to its pricing and explain customers’ entitlements to cancel. It’s always worthwhile comparing options for the most economical and rapid internet connections in one’s area, as more affordable deals exist from suppliers like Plusnet, though its users will also encounter a £4 increase from March.
This applies to providers such as Virgin Media and TalkTalk, while London-based operator Community Fibre guarantees no mid-contract increases, but only serves the capital. BT revealed its pricing modifications on Friday (January 16), saying they enable essential investment in its infrastructure.
“We’re committed to making sure our customers know exactly how much they will pay throughout their contract, with predictable and transparent pricing in pounds and pence provided to each customer before they sign up,” it said. “Price changes enable us to make the ongoing investments necessary to provide our customers with the best networks, leading innovations, new services and better support.
“This is vital at a time when consumer demand for data and service quality has never been higher.”
