It's time to ban above inflation mid-contract mobile and broadband price hikes – new MSE research shows Ofcom's rules mean 75% pay more

MoneySavingExpert (MSE) is calling for a ban on above-inflation mid-contract mobile and broadband price hikes, warning that Ofcom’s new rules have left 75% of customers paying more than they would under the previous inflation-linked system. Exclusive research from MSE, the UK’s largest consumer website, analysed over 47,000 tariffs from April 2024 to March 2026 across major providers including EE, O2, Three and Vodafone.

The study found that three in four customers were worse off under Ofcom’s new mid-contract price hike solution compared with the old inflation-linked approach. In almost all cases, customers faced price rises above the rate of inflation.

The net result of the new rules is that they effectively banned price hikes directly linked to inflation, according to MSE. Those who suffer most are customers who tried to keep costs down by choosing cheaper tariffs.

MSE analysis shows that only those with the highest, often premium, tariffs marginally gained. For example, a mobile customer facing a £2.50 April increase would typically need to have been paying more than £34 per month to benefit compared with the old rules, while a broadband customer facing a £4 rise would need to have been paying almost £55 per month.

A family of four with four low-data mobile contracts and a basic broadband package could pay £14 per month more from April 2026 and £28 per month more from April 2027, representing a 39% increase on their initial monthly price when they signed up. MSE states it provisionally looks as though the regulator’s intervention resulted in most contracts costing more.

MSE is urging the regulator to ban above-inflation mid-contract price hikes to protect consumers from higher bills. The research was published on 28 June 2026.

Open article on Cheshire Today