Mobile contracts can be complex. Sometimes it’s hard to unpick the real value of the incentives included by your provider, leading to many people overpaying for services they don’t need.
In recent years, the cost of data has reduced and we’ve been holding onto our phones for longer, leading to a huge growth in SIM-only contracts.
This page provides an overview of the main UK mobile providers, summarises recent industry news, and gives some advice and tips, as well as sources for further support.
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There are four mobile networks in the UK: EE, O2, Vodafone, and Three.
All the other providers, known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), are operated by companies using one of these four networks.
They essentially piggyback on one of the main network providers to offer their customers mobile service.
This means if you use an MVNO as your provider, you’ll get the same coverage as you would with the large operator it’s piggybacking from.
<aside> ☎️ Ofcom, the sector regulator, publishes an annual report on customer service levels.
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Most mobile providers put prices up every year by the rate of inflation in a given month, plus an additional percentage. If your provider told you about this (even in the small print) when you signed up with them, you are unable to cancel if you’re in contract.
From January 2025 providers will no longer be permitted to do this.
They will still be able to increase prices during a contract, but they will have to tell customers upfront in ‘pounds and pence’ about expected increases.
There are a few providers who don’t increase prices during your contract term: Tesco Mobile commits to freezing prices for the contract duration and providers such as Giffgaff and Smarty sell 1-month rolling contracts, which inflation-based price rises don’t apply to.
| Mobile Providers | % increase (April 2021) | % increase (April 2022) | % increase (April 2023) | % increase (April 2024) | Mid-contract price rise policy | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | O2 | 1.4 | 11.7 | 17.3 | 8.8 | RPI + 3.9% | | Virgin Media | 4 | 11.7 | 17.3 | 8.8 | RPI + 3.9% | | BT | 4.5 | 9.3 | 14.4 | 7.9 | CPI + 3.9% | | EE | 4.5 | 9.3 | 14.4 | 7.9 | CPI + 3.9% | | Plusnet | 4.5 | 9.3 | 14.4 | Plusnet is closing down its mobile service before price rises kick in | CPI + 3.9% | | Three | 4.5 | 7.8 | 14.4 | 7.9 | CPI + 3.9% | | Vodafone | 4.5 | 9.3 | 14.4 | 7.9 | CPI + 3.9% | | TalkMobile | 4.3 | 9.1 | 14.2 | 7.9 | CPI + 3.9% | | iD mobile | 1.4 | 9.4 | 13.4 | 7.7 | CPI + 3.9% |