Ofcom complaints rose in the final three months of 2025 for the first time since Q3 2023, reversing a long run of declines and putting fresh pressure on telecom providers already facing scrutiny over prices and service. The increase in the October to December 2025 quarter was driven mainly by pay-monthly mobile services after several companies introduced mid-contract price rises.
In broadband, Talktalk and Vodafone were the most complained-about providers. Vodafone recorded 11 complaints per 100,000 subscribers in Ofcom’s Q4 2025 data, while Talktalk recorded 10 per 100,000 users, unchanged from the previous quarter. The industry average was 7 complaints per 100,000 subscribers, putting both firms above the market norm even though Talktalk did not see a further rise.
The rest of the broadband market sat lower. BT and EE each recorded 8 complaints per 100,000 subscribers, Sky recorded 7, and Virgin Media and Plusnet each recorded 5. That left Talktalk above the average but still below Vodafone, which took the unwanted lead in the category.
Landline complaints told a different story. BT, EE, NOW Broadband, Plusnet and Talktalk were the most complained-about providers, but Talktalk saw an improvement as complaint levels fell. The company recorded 5 complaints per 100,000 users, in line with BT and Plusnet and below EE and NOW Broadband, which each recorded 6. Vodafone reported 3 landline complaints per 100,000 subscribers, while Virgin Media and Sky each recorded 2 and Utility Warehouse recorded 1, against an industry average of 3.
Mobile was where the pressure was heaviest. O2 generated the highest number of customer complaints in the pay-monthly market, and Ofcom said most of those complaints were tied to contract-related concerns, including pricing and billing. EE, Tesco Mobile and Three recorded the lowest complaint levels among pay-monthly mobile providers.
The pattern matters because it shows the latest complaints surge was not spread evenly across the sector. It was concentrated in a market where customers are locked into monthly contracts and more exposed to price changes, making the backlash more immediate when bills rise. Talktalk’s broadband numbers were steady, but the provider still appears in both broadband and landline rankings, a reminder that improvement in one part of the business does not erase pressure in another.
The data leaves telecom companies with a clear problem heading into the next quarter: complaints are rising again, and the weakest spot is not just one provider but the way contract changes are landing with customers. If the recent price increases continue to feed mobile disputes, the next set of Ofcom figures may show whether this was a one-quarter bump or the start of a broader turn higher.
