Ofcom regularly monitors people’s experience of communications services. This summary sets out the findings from our latest research into the affordability of home broadband, mobile phone, landline and pay-TV services.
8.1 million UK households are having difficulty affording communications services
In January 2023, around three in ten (29%) households we surveyed had difficulty affording a communication service. This remains at the relatively high level reported in the latter half of 2022.
In total, we estimate that around 8.1 million UK households (+/- 800,000) were finding it difficult to afford communications service(s).
Younger adults (42% of those aged 18-24), households with children (38%), benefits recipients (40%) and people with a disability or limiting condition (42%) continue to be among those most likely to be having difficulty affording communications services. Awareness of social tariffs has improved among eligible customers (to 47% from 16% in January 2022). Most people are hearing about social tariffs for the first time via social media (26%) and television (21%) but only 9% have heard about social tariffs from their provider.