Latest news with #Hyperoptic
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Broadband firm with 300,000 customers introduces mid-contract price hikes
Hyperoptic previously advertised itself as a broadband provider that did not increase prices during a contract. This made it different from other major providers, including O2, Vodafone, and BT A major broadband provider has ditched one of its biggest pledges and will implement mid-contract price rises for customers. Hyperoptic previously advertised itself as a broadband provider that did not increase prices during a contract. This made it different from other major providers, including O2, Vodafone, and the BT Group, which includes BT, EE, and Plusnet. The firm has also spent the last few years campaigning against the practice. Before this year, telecoms providers were allowed to increase prices mid-contract in line with inflation from March and April, plus up to 3.9% extra on top of this. However, Ofcom banned inflation-based mid-contract price rises this year. Telecoms providers can still hike prices mid-contract, although now it is by a set amount detailed in the contract in "pounds and pence". In early 2023, Hyperoptic launched a TV ad campaign calling out the pricing tactic. But in a U-turn move, the provider has now implemented mid-contract prices into its contracts. From April 2026, broadband contracts will rise by £3 a year. However, the price hikes will only affect customer contracts that joined after June 3 this year. Hyperoptic currently has around 300,000 broadband customers in the UK. Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money WHATSAPP GROUP: Get money news and top deals straight to your phone by joining our Money WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The broadband provider said that existing customers will not be affected by the yearly price rises - unless they switch to a new contract. Customers on a Fair Fibre plan - which is the provider's cheaper package for those on benefits such as Universal Credit - will also not see their prices rise mid-contract. Lutfu Kitapci, chief technology officer and managing director of ISP at Hyperoptic, said: "For years, broadband consumers have had to deal with unknown price increases in the middle of their contract and we are proud to have campaigned and supported the ban of this unfair practice. "Price changes however are not uncommon, for example after introductory pricing, discounted months and other offers." He added: 'To remain competitive in the current environment, we will be introducing an annual increase of £3 from April 2026, for customers joining from 3rd June 2025'. The price adjustments represent significant percentage increases across Hyperoptic's product range - with some rising by 12% overall: 50Mb Fast - Current: £26 - From April 2026: £29 (+12%) 150Mb Superfast - Current: £26 - From April 2026: £29 (+12%) 500Mb Ultrafast - Current: £31 - From April 2026: £34 (+10%) 1Gb Hyperfast - Current: £35 - From April 2026: £38 (+9%) Join Money Saving Club's specialist topics Alex Tofts, Strategist at Broadband Genie, expressed strong disappointment at the move, he said: "We're disappointed to see Hyperoptic join the long list of providers that raise prices for its customers before they reach the end of their deal. This price increase represents a gigantic price jump of 12% for customers wishing to subscribe to their most affordable deals.' He added: 'All mid-contract price rises achieve is concern and confusion for customers. The only way we can make true progress and do justice for bill payers is for Ofcom to step up and outright ban these shameful price rises'.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Broadband provider with 300,000 customers makes huge u-turn on bills and customers will pay more
A number of firms, which we reveal below, hiked their broadband and mobile phone contracts earlier this year LINE FAIL Broadband provider with 300,000 customers makes huge u-turn on bills and customers will pay more Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR broadband provider has made a u-turn on bills meaning customers will pay more. Hyperoptic has ditched its no mid-contract price rise pledge meaning households will have to cough up more during their contract terms. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Hyperoptic has said it will now hike prices for customers midway through contracts Credit: Alamy The firm has spent the last few years campaigning to stop the practice which sees prices rise to keep up with inflation. In early 2023, it launched a TV ad campaign calling out the pricing tactic. However, it will now implement annual increases of £3 from April 2026 for customers joining after June 3 this year. Lutfu Kitapci, chief technology officer and managing director of ISP at Hyperoptic, said: "For years, broadband consumers have had to deal with unknown price increases in the middle of their contract and we are proud to have campaigned and supported the ban of this unfair practice. "Price changes however are not uncommon, for example after introductory pricing, discounted months and other offers." He added existing customers will not be affected by the annual increase, unless they switch to a new contract. Customers on a Fair Fibre plan, a cheaper package for those on benefits like Universal Credit and PIP, will also not see their prices rise mid-contract. The changes mean that someone on a 24-month 150MB Superfast package living in North-East London will see their price rise from £19 a month to £22 a month next April. From April 2027, this will rise a further £3 to £25 a month. Meanwhile, a household in the same area choosing a 24-month 1GB Hyperfast deal will see the price rise from £25 a month now to £28 next April, then £31 from April 2027. CHECK YOUR SPEED: Broadband You can find out how much your package might rise by visiting BROADBAND PRICE RISES A host of broadband firms hiked prices for customers in March and April. This included BT and EE Mobile and broadband customers, those with Three and Tesco Mobile customers. For some customers, their contract prices rose by various measures of inflation plus a certain percentage. However, other customers saw prices rise based on a new pounds and pence method introduced by regulator Ofcom. For example, O2 customers who signed up for deals before January 9 this year saw their contracts hiked by January's RPI rate of inflation plus 3.9% on April 1. But, those who agreed to a new SIM-only deal from January 9 onwards saw their contracts rise by £1.80. Vodafone mobile phone customers who took out a new deal before July 2, 2024 saw their monthly costs go up based on the January CPI measure of inflation plus 3.9% on April 1. Firms that don't implement mid-contract price hikes Giffgaff (O2) Lebara (Vodafone) Lycamobile (EE) (prices frozen until 2026) SMARTY (Three) Superdrug Mobile (Three) Talkmobile (Vodafone) VOXI (Vodafone) However, anyone who took out a deal after this date will have seen their bill rise by a flat £3. How to cut mobile and broadband costs Check whether you can save potentially hundreds of pounds a year on your broadband by switching to a different provider. Which? research found, on average, out-of-contract TV and broadband customers could save £160 by switching. Meanwhile, TV and broadband customers who haggled with their current provider rather than switching saved £117 on average. It's worth checking if you qualify for a social tariff as well, available to those on certain benefits like Universal Credit. They're usually cheaper than standard broadband packages and could save you up to £456 a year. Social tariffs are not just offered by broadband providers either - you can get them for mobile phones too. You can find out the list of providers that offer either type of tariff on the Ofcom website. If you're looking for a TV, broadband and phone deal, it can often work out cheaper buying a bundle package combining them all too. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Broadband provider with 300,000 customers makes huge u-turn on bills and customers will pay more
A MAJOR broadband provider has made a u-turn on bills meaning customers will pay more. Hyperoptic has ditched its no mid-contract price rise pledge meaning households will have to cough up more during their contract terms. 1 The firm has spent the last few years campaigning to stop the practice which sees prices rise to keep up with inflation. In early 2023, it launched a TV ad campaign calling out the pricing tactic. However, it will now implement annual increases of £3 from April 2026 for customers joining after June 3 this year. Lutfu Kitapci, chief technology officer and managing director of ISP at Hyperoptic, said: "For years, broadband consumers have had to deal with unknown price increases in the middle of their contract and we are proud to have campaigned and supported the ban of this unfair practice. "Price changes however are not uncommon, for example after introductory pricing, discounted months and other offers." He added existing customers will not be affected by the annual increase, unless they switch to a new contract. Customers on a Fair Fibre plan, a cheaper package for those on benefits like Universal Credit and PIP, will also not see their prices rise mid-contract. The changes mean that someone on a 24-month 150MB Superfast package living in North-East London will see their price rise from £19 a month to £22 a month next April. From April 2027, this will rise a further £3 to £25 a month. Meanwhile, a household in the same area choosing a 24-month 1GB Hyperfast deal will see the price rise from £25 a month now to £28 next April, then £31 from April 2027. You can find out how much your package might rise by visiting BROADBAND PRICE RISES A host of broadband firms hiked prices for customers in March and April. This included BT and EE Mobile and broadband customers, those with Three and Tesco Mobile customers. For some customers, their contract prices rose by various measures of inflation plus a certain percentage. However, other customers saw prices rise based on a new pounds and pence method introduced by regulator Ofcom. For example, O2 customers who signed up for deals before January 9 this year saw their contracts hiked by January's RPI rate of inflation plus 3.9% on April 1. But, those who agreed to a new SIM-only deal from January 9 onwards saw their contracts rise by £1.80. Vodafone mobile phone customers who took out a new deal before July 2, 2024 saw their monthly costs go up based on the January CPI measure of inflation plus 3.9% on April 1. However, anyone who took out a deal after this date will have seen their bill rise by a flat £3. How to cut mobile and broadband costs Check whether you can save potentially hundreds of pounds a year on your broadband by switching to a different provider. Which? research found, on average, out-of-contract TV and broadband customers could save £160 by switching. Meanwhile, TV and broadband customers who haggled with their current provider rather than switching saved £117 on average. It's worth checking if you qualify for a social tariff as well, available to those on certain benefits like Universal Credit. They're usually cheaper than standard broadband packages and could save you up to £456 a year. Social tariffs are not just offered by broadband providers either - you can get them for mobile phones too. You can find out the list of providers that offer either type of tariff on the Ofcom website. If you're looking for a TV, broadband and phone deal, it can often work out cheaper buying a bundle package combining them all too. .
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The best broadband deals for May 2025: Compare the top offers and save money by switching
You don't have to pay through the roof for a decent internet connection. It's possible to find an inexpensive broadband deal by comparing providers today. Fibre broadband is faster than traditional copper connections – and the good news is that most UK households can now get this type of internet. Here are the best fibre broadband deals, whether you're looking for the fastest speeds, the shortest contracts or the best free gifts. Find the fastest and cheapest broadband - and see if you can save Broadband, TV and phone contracts are notoriously sticky, with customers often allowing deals to run on for many years while providers raise prices. But it may be possible for you to get faster broadband, a better TV package and an improved phone deal, while saving money each month. It is always worth comparing prices to see if you can save - particularly as the cost of living crisis bites. This is Money has partnered with Broadband Choices to offer readers the chance to easily search for the best and cheapest deals for their broadband, mobile and TV. Compare broadband deals: here are our top picks Before taking out a deal, read the terms and conditions and find out about any mid-contract price rises. Some deals come with incentives which aren't around forever, so if you want to take advantage of rewards like gift cards and vouchers, check when you have to act by and read all the terms of the deal. Best cheap broadband deal overall – NOW TV, Now Full Fibre 75 Price: £24 a month Length: 24 months Set-up cost: £0 NOW TV is operated by Sky, so this contract should be widely available. This is a good deal for full fibre broadband, at a speed that's fast enough for everyday use. Best deal for cheap fast broadband – Hyperoptic, 500Mb Fibre Connection Price: £25 a month Length: 24 months Set-up cost: £0 If your area can get faster speeds, check out Hyperoptic. This provider isn't available everywhere, only covering areas in London and larger cities at the moment. But if you can get it, its packages are competitive. For fast speeds from a more well-known and widely available provider, consider Plusnet's Full Fibre 500 package, which costs £31.99 a month for and comes with a £75 reward card. This offer is available until 7 May. Best broadband deal with free gift – Vodafone, Full Fibre 150 Price: £26 a month Length: 24 months Set-up cost: £0 Vodafone's offering a £125 gift card to spend at Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S and Amazon when you sign up for its Full Fibre 150 package. But be quick, because the deal ends on 5 May. For a deal that's lasting a bit longer, Plusnet is a good alternative. Its Full Fibre 145 package will cost you £26.99 a month for 24 months, and you'll get a £50 reward card after you sign up. The deal is available until 7 May. Best broadband deal with TV – Sky Stream, Essential TV, Netflix & Full Fibre 75 Broadband Price: £35 a month Length: 24 months Set-up cost: £0 Sky's Essential TV package includes Sky Atlantic, Netflix and Discovery+. The monthly bill is the same for 75Mbps, 150Mbps or 300Mbps, which is great news for those who want and can get faster speeds. Best 18-month broadband deal – Virgin Media, M125 Fibre Broadband Price: £23.99 a month Length: 18 months Set-up cost: £0 If you don't want to get locked into a two-year contract, 18-month deals are available with some providers. Virgin Media is offering £55 bill credit with this package until 8 May. Keep in mind Virgin Media isn't available in all parts of the country. Is it worth switching broadband supplier? It's worth comparing deals if you're reaching the end of your contract. Switching suppliers can bag you: a cheaper deal faster internet a competitive bundled package (for example with TV and streaming services included) free gifts and incentives to move improved service You'll be shunted to a rolling contract when your existing one expires – and it's likely the provider will hike your monthly bill. Providers bank on customers not taking any action in this situation, so you should check whether you can get a better deal elsewhere. Keep in mind your provider must tell you when you're reaching the end of your contract and what alternative deals they have available. Moving to one of these in good time means you'll avoid hefty out-of-contract prices. How to change broadband supplier It's now straightforward to switch broadband through one touch switching. Once you've found a new deal, give the new provider your details, including your address and current provider. Your old provider should send you information to help you decide whether you want to continue with the switch. If you do, the providers will arrange for this to happen on your preferred switching date. If something goes wrong you may be entitled to compensation. For example, you can't be left without internet for more than one working day during the switch, under Ofcom's rules. Can I get fibre broadband? Your internet speed is determined by the type of broadband connection you have. The slowest type of broadband is Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), which runs on copper phone lines. Full fibre runs completely on fibre optic cables and is the fastest, but not every household can get full fibre currently. Here's where availability stands right now: Most UK households can get ADSL broadband. While it's the slowest type of broadband, it's widely available, so remote and rural locations can still get connected. ADSL speeds generally reach 21Mbps (megabits per second). Most UK households can get part-fibre broadband. This broadband can reach speeds of around 76Mbps. It's known as fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) broadband. Your home's linked to a cabinet on your street by a copper cable, with the cabinet then connected to the broadband exchange by a fibre optic cable. 69 per cent of UK households can get full-fibre broadband. This is called fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband, because the fibre optic cable is connected directly to your home. Speeds can reach 1Gbps (gigabits per second). Telecoms regulator Ofcom wants full fibre rolled out to almost the whole country by 2027. Use Ofcom's postcode checker to find out what broadband is available in your area. What speed broadband do I need? The best broadband for you won't necessarily be the fastest. You might end up paying for speeds you don't need – it depends on what internet you can get in your area, how many people are in your household, what you each use the internet for and how many people are using the internet at any one time. Many households now use the internet for much more than browsing the internet and sending email. Network provider Openreach says households with no more than four people should find download speeds of around 50-76Mbps enough for basic internet use plus streaming, working from home and video calls. If you throw gaming, 4K streaming or using virtual reality in the mix – or there are more than four people in the house – you may benefit from faster speeds. You can find full fibre broadband deals offering speeds of up to 1Gbps (gigabits per second) from providers including BT, Vodafone and Virgin Media. What is the average internet speed in the UK? In 2024 the average internet speed in the UK was 223Mbps, according to Ofcom's Connected Nations report. This was up from 170Mbps in 2023. How to haggle for a deal from your current provider If you're coming to the end of your broadband contract or are out of contract already, it's often possible to get cheaper internet by negotiating with your current provider. It may be worth haggling when you're still under contract, but your options will be far more limited. Being able to switch without penalty puts you in a stronger position for haggling. When you're under contract, you probably won't be able to leave without paying exit fees. This can be expensive, because it usually involves paying for the remaining months of your contract. Here are our tips on how to haggle broadband: 1. Check your mid-contract price hike Broadband providers raise prices in March or April each year. If your provider tries to hike your monthly bill by more than you agreed to, you have a right to leave within 30 days without penalty, so review your contract to make sure it's increasing by the right amount. 2. Compare broadband deals when your contract is ending When haggling, it pays to be prepared. The best time to compare deals is a few weeks before your contract is due to expire. If you find cheaper internet than your provider's offering and it's the speed you want, note the prices down, contact your provider and ask them to match what you've found. Don't take the first offer – your provider will have a dedicated team that can authorise better deals. 3. Be persistent When you contact your provider at the end (or out) of your contract and say you want to switch because you've found a better deal elsewhere, you'll usually be put through to its retentions department. This team's job is to make sure customers stick with the provider. The trick is to stay calm, civil and persistent. Don't let the price you'll be happy with slip – it can harm your position. If you're broadly happy with your provider, say your bill is your biggest sticking point. But if you don't have any success initially, hammer home any issues you've had. Are you getting the advertised speeds? Is the Wi-Fi connection strong enough? If not, these are all bargaining chips you can haggle with. 4. Consider extras – but only if you need them Your provider may be more willing to throw in gifts, extras or add-ons rather than drastically reduce the price. Don't be rushed into accepting these – they can sound tempting, but you may end up with something you didn't really need. In the same way, think about whether you really need everything you're paying for currently. For example, reducing your speed could make your internet cheaper, and ask about deals without extras added. 5. Be willing to switch Don't rush to accept a deal. Tell your provider you need time to think about it, or you need to discuss the offer with someone else first – whether that's your partner, housemate or children. If you aren't happy with their offer, the final trick up your sleeve should be to go ahead with switching to a cheaper deal. Luckily switching broadband provider is the simplest it's ever been. In 2024 Ofcom introduced one touch switching. You just need to give the provider you want to switch to your details and they can kickstart the process. Answers to common questions about broadband Do you need a landline for broadband? No, many providers allow you to take out a broadband-only deal. While your home may still be connected to the internet in part by a copper phone line, you don't always need to take out a home phone service or pay for calls. In this situation, your monthly price will reflect the cost of renting the phone line for a broadband-only service. Full fibre, cable, satellite and mobile broadband connections aren't delivered through a copper phone line, so you won't need a landline if you can get these types of internet. What is the best broadband in my area? The best broadband is subjective because it depends on your household's needs. But you can find your best deal by entering your address into a comparison tool, which should give you an idea of the packages available in your area. Ofcom's latest statistics suggest that out of the major providers, customers are most satisfied with Plusnet for overall service and internet speeds.
The Irish Sun
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Hyperoptic down UPDATES: Major broadband firm outage leaves thousands without internet access
HYPEROPTIC has gone down for thousands with customers experiencing issues accessing the internet. More than 1,000 customers have logged complaints on the Downdetector website, which measures outages, since 7am this morning. The vast majority – 82% – are experiencing problems with internet access. You can follow our live blog, below, for all the latest updates … By Welcome to our Hyperoptic down live blog Thanks for following us. We'll keep you updated with all the latest developments here. Copy link Copied
