The UK Broadband Contract Ending Report 2026
How broadband contract endings, out-of-contract pricing and review timing affect what households pay before the next bill cycle begins.
What the data shows
Out of contract
Out-of-contract customers
28%
Ofcom says 28% of broadband customers are out of contract.
Monthly price gap
In-contract saving
£7–£9
Ofcom says customers who are in contract spend between £7 and £9 a month less than out-of-contract customers on average.
2026 in-contract rises
Annual in-contract rises
£2–£4
Ofcom says in-contract price rises announced for 2026 range from £2 to £4 a month for fixed broadband services.
Haggling success
Haggling success rate
69%
MoneySavingExpert says 69% of people in its January 2026 poll who haggled with their broadband provider were successful.
Bundle savings
Bundle discount range
£26–£48
Ofcom says households who bundle telecoms services generally benefit from lower prices, with savings ranging from £26 to £48 a month compared with buying separately.
What is happening when broadband contracts end
Broadband is one of the clearest Household Bills categories because the contract ending date is usually known in advance.
A typical deal runs for 12, 18 or 24 months. The problem is that once the deal ends, the household often does nothing straight away. Ofcom says many customers are still out of contract, and those on new deals are usually paying less.
That does not mean every switch is the right move. But it does mean the end of the contract is a clear review point. The bill changes on a date. The review needs to happen before then.
Why broadband contract endings still need reviewing
Broadband is easy to leave alone because it usually keeps working. That is exactly why overpayment happens.
The contract ends, the price changes, the household means to look at it, and the next bill arrives first. Ofcom also says providers have moved to clearer fixed-pound annual rises in newer contracts, which makes the pricing path easier to understand but does not remove the need to check.
So the real issue is not whether broadband matters. It is whether the contract-end date gets treated as a live decision point.
What households should check before the contract ends
Check when the current deal ends
Know the exact contract-end date and when the next higher bill could apply.
Check the out-of-contract or post-deal price
The headline monthly figure can change materially once the deal period ends.
Check any annual price-rise terms
Newer contracts often show future rises in pounds and pence. Read them properly.
Check whether the current speed still fits the household
There is no point paying more for a package that no longer matches your actual needs.
Review before the deal ends
Once the contract-end date passes, inertia usually does the rest.
Related pages
Broadband contract reminders
How Onremind protects you before your broadband contract ends.
What to check before broadband contract ends
Practical guidance on reviewing your deal before the date.
Ofcom says out-of-contract broadband customers still pay more
Latest developments relevant to broadband contract endings.
All household bill reminders
See all household bill categories protected by Onremind.
Sources
- Ofcom, pricing and consumer engagement research, 2026
- Ofcom, out-of-contract broadband pricing analysis
- MoneySavingExpert, broadband haggling results, January 2026
- Which?, broadband and TV haggling guidance