The UK mobile network people complain about the most
Key Points
- O2 received the most complaints per 100,000 subscribers out of all the mobile operators in the United Kingdom.
- This surge in complaints was largely attributed to the announcement of mid-contract price rises for existing customers, a decision which Ofcom has looked upon dimly.
- The most complained-about broadband providers were TalkTalk and Vodafone, and EE pay-TV received the most complaints per 100,000 subscribers.
The UK’s communications regulator has published its latest data on which mobile, broadband, landline, and pay-TV networks receive the most complaints.
In its data for Q4 2025, Ofcom found that O2 was the mobile operator that generated the most complaints, while EE, Tesco Mobile, and Three received the least.
O2 received seven complaints per 100,000 subscribers, followed by five for Sky Mobile. Three, EE, and Tesco Mobile only received one complaint per 100,000 subscribers.
One of the biggest reasons O2 topped the list of mobile provider complaints was its announcement of mid-contract price rises, with 35% of complaints related to customers’ issue with their contracts.
When O2 announced these price increases in October, Ofcom took a definitively dim view of the mobile operator’s decision, releasing a statement which said it goes against the spirit of its rules.
When it comes to landline providers, the most-complained about were BT, EE, NOW Broadband, Plusnet and TalkTalk.
TalkTalk also topped the list of complained-about broadband providers and was joined by Vodafone, which saw a notable increase in complaints compared with the previous quarter.
The broadband providers with the least number of complaints per 100,000 subscribers were Plusnet and Virgin Media.
The most complained-about pay-TV provider was EE, which generated five complaints per 100,000, while TalkTalk generated the fewest complaints, just below Sky and Virgin Media.
“It is disappointing to see an increase in customers complaints during this quarter, especially following a sustained period of decreases in the complaints we received about telecoms companies,” said Ofcom Director of Consumers and Retail Markets Cristina Luna-Esteban.
“However, a main driver of these complaints appears to be an unexpected mid-contract price rise announcements for some mobile customers in the Autumn of 2025.”
“We will continue to monitor the market including future complaints figures for any indication of ongoing customer dissatisfaction,” she said.
