Irish households could be €600 out of pocket from annual price rises on broadband and mobile

Millions of mobile, broadband, and TV customers will once again see their bills rise from 1 April due to annual price rises from some of Ireland’s biggest telecom providers.

The move toward ‘annual’ price increases began in 2022, with telecom providers using an inflation-linked formula to set yearly price rises. This has meant that households have seen the cost of their broadband and mobile plans soar by hundreds of euros over the last four years.

Although inflation-linked pricing is being replaced with an annual flat-rate rise for newer customers (after mounting concerns from Comreg), these mid-term hikes can still cause a price shock.

The changes to monthly bills may seem small, but the cumulative cost over multiple years can really add up – especially for households with more than one contract on the go.

So what do the price rises mean for customers?

Based on a typical family with 1 SIM-only contract, 1 Bill Pay contract, and a 1GB broadband & TV bundle, the increase since 2023 could have amounted to over €600 if they had stuck with the same supplier and hadn’t switched when their contract ended.

To combat this year’s hikes, Switcher.ie has put together some money-saving tips on how to futureproof against annual price rises and cut your costs.

1. Switch to another discounted plan when your contract ends

Plan ahead and start your broadband bargain hunt before your contract ends. Use comparison websites with an eircode checker to quickly find the cheapest options in your location. Ensure you factor in the price after the promotional period, as well as crucial features such as speed, contract duration, and any rewards or perks.

2. Bundle your broadband, TV & mobile

Combine your broadband, TV and mobile services into a single package to reduce your monthly expenses. Many Irish households rely on streaming services like NOW and Netflix for sports and entertainment. Bundling broadband & TV, and adding your mobile SIM-only plan can lead to significant savings compared to individual plans.

3. Haggle for a better deal

If you really don’t want to leave your current provider, tell them you’re thinking of leaving before jumping, and they may just pull out all the stops to keep you. Use comparison sites to find cheaper options and ask for a price match. You might get a lower price, but it’s not guaranteed.

4. Switch to SIM only 

Save money with a SIM-only deal. If your phone contract is up and you’re still happy with your phone, shop around for the cheapest SIM-only plan and try the smaller, no frills providers (they use the same networks as the bigger brands). Unlike bill-pay contracts, which include the cost of a new device, SIM-only deals just charge for calls, texts, and data, offering huge savings and flexible, shorter contracts.

Eoin Clarke, Telecoms Expert at Switcher.ie comments:

“Households will face a bundle of price hikes on April Fools’ Day. Once again, some telecom giants are pushing up prices, with a few SIM-only contracts surging by over 15%.

This year, more providers have moved towards a flat rate annual increase, which means that customers know what to expect – but it doesn’t necessarily make it less costly. SIM-only customers could be stumping up an extra €2.50 per month, even on budget plans, due to flat-rate annual price rises.

Even if your monthly price rise seems small, if you have several contracts running and you haven’t switched over the last 3 or 4 years, you may now be paying up to 30% more than you did in 2023 just to keep in touch with friends and family, surf the internet or stream TV.

The good news is that providers are, as ever, jostling for new customers, leading to some healthy discounts, welcome credits and great perks. Our advice is – don’t delay and switch providers when your contract ends. The best deals are always offered to newcomers, so take advantage of any introductory discounts and bill credits.

If peace of mind is more important or you’re not keen on switching too often, remember: the cheapest deal isn’t always the best value in the long term. Compare contract length, annual price increases and ‘thereafter’ price once your discount ends. Lock into a broadband deal with long-term savings, or a SIM-only plan with a ‘price for life’ pledge.”