---
title: UK telecoms media reputation tracker – H1 2026
canonical_url: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1
type: dataset
publisher: Omniscan
sector: UK Telecoms
period: H1 2026
coverage_start: '2026-01-01'
coverage_end: '2026-06-30'
date_published: '2026-09-01'
last_updated: '2026-09-01'
organisations: 8
articles_analysed: 2784
mentions: 3642
data_download: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1/data.json
summary: BT / EE had the highest average monthly share of coverage (30.1%) among 8
  operators in UK earned media from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026, ahead of Virgin
  Media O2 (26.2%) and VodafoneThree (19.6%).
---

# UK telecoms media reputation tracker: H1 2026 (1 January 2026–30 June 2026)

> BT / EE had the highest average monthly share of coverage (30.1%) among 8 operators in UK earned media from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026, ahead of Virgin Media O2 (26.2%) and VodafoneThree (19.6%). Community Fibre had the most favourable net tone (+57). Omniscan analysed 2,784 articles containing 3,642 mentions of the operators tracked.

Interactive version: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1

## UK Telecoms ranking by share of coverage, H1 2026

| Rank | Organisation | Average monthly share of coverage | Mentions | Positive | Neutral | Negative | Net tone |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | BT / EE | 30.1% | 1,087 | 36% | 44% | 20% | +16 |
| 2 | Virgin Media O2 | 26.2% | 946 | 47% | 35% | 18% | +30 |
| 3 | VodafoneThree | 19.6% | 717 | 44% | 37% | 19% | +24 |
| 4 | Sky | 12.3% | 471 | 33% | 44% | 23% | +11 |
| 5 | CityFibre | 4.3% | 152 | 41% | 53% | 6% | +36 |
| 6 | TalkTalk | 3.5% | 132 | 11% | 46% | 43% | −33 |
| 7 | Community Fibre | 2.2% | 81 | 58% | 41% | 1% | +57 |
| 8 | Hyperoptic | 1.6% | 56 | 41% | 41% | 18% | +23 |

## Monthly share of coverage, UK Telecoms

| Organisation | January 2026 | February 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 | May 2026 | June 2026 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BT / EE | 29.4% | 28.3% | 32.5% | 29.1% | 32.5% | 28.9% |
| Virgin Media O2 | 23.5% | 27.2% | 28.4% | 25.2% | 24.9% | 28.0% |
| VodafoneThree | 17.0% | 19.3% | 16.5% | 21.5% | 24.5% | 18.7% |
| Sky | 16.6% | 16.5% | 8.4% | 12.0% | 10.6% | 10.0% |
| CityFibre | 5.4% | 2.6% | 5.3% | 3.2% | 3.0% | 6.5% |
| TalkTalk | 3.1% | 5.0% | 3.0% | 3.7% | 2.2% | 4.1% |
| Community Fibre | 3.8% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 1.7% | 2.4% |
| Hyperoptic | 1.3% | 0.7% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 0.6% | 1.4% |

## Operators in detail

### BT / EE

**BT / EE leads as infrastructure and strategy reshape coverage**

BT / EE ranked 1st of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (30.1%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for H1 2026, with 1,087 mentions and a net tone of +16.

Monthly share ranged from 28.3% in February to 32.5% in March and May without dislodging the operator from first place. January established a broad agenda spanning the Digital Voice transition, price rises, service failures, scams and investor concern over broadband competition. February shifted towards corporate performance and leadership, including quarterly customer losses, full-fibre additions and Katie Milligan's appointment to lead Openreach. Network investment became more prominent in March and April through rural Project Gigabit work, Openreach's expanded Google Cloud partnership, EE's wider 5G+ availability and London Underground emergency-services infrastructure. May centred on annual results, a higher £3.7 billion cost-saving target, fibre demand, broadband line losses and warnings about handset costs. June added a major corporate restructuring story when BT and Verizon agreed to combine their international enterprise operations in a joint venture. Visibility peaked in March 2026 at 32.5%, compared with 28.3% in February 2026. February 2026: share fell 1.1 points to 28.3% while BT reported lower revenue, broadband customer losses and 571,000 new Openreach full-fibre customers. April 2026: BT and Nscale's plan for up to 14MW of UK data-centre capacity — Reuters. EE has cut prices for its full-fibre broadband plans, with packages starting at £26.99 and higher-speed 500Mbps and 900Mbps tiers also reduced. New customers receive EE's Wi-Fi 7 Smart Hub 7 Plus router with qualifying full-fibre plans.

Key messages:

- Visibility peaked in March 2026 at 32.5%, compared with 28.3% in February 2026.
- January 2026: BT's stop-sell notices across 132 postcodes and the Digital Voice transition — Express.
- EE has cut prices for its full-fibre broadband plans, with packages starting at £26.99 and higher-speed 500Mbps and 900Mbps tiers also reduced. New customers receive EE's Wi-Fi 7 Smart Hub 7 Plus router with qualifying full-fibre plans.
- BT reported lower-than-expected Openreach customer losses and maintained its earnings outlook as price cuts and network investment supported its turnaround. The article also notes fixed-line competition and subscriber losses at Openreach customer TalkTalk.
- RootMetrics and Ookla ranked EE as the UK's leading mobile network for the second half of 2025, with wins across overall performance, reliability, speed and other measures. EE recorded a 114.1 Mbps aggregate median download speed, compared with 53.8 Mbps for Three.
- Katie Milligan has been appointed chief executive of BT infrastructure arm Openreach, succeeding Clive Selley. The article covers Openreach's fibre rollout, competitive pressure from altnets and BT's decision to retain the business rather than sell it.

Leading themes:

- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 24.2% of BT / EE's coverage (theme index 1.43, net tone +58)
- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 15.5% of BT / EE's coverage (theme index 0.58, net tone −25)
- Financial results & corporate strategy: 11.7% of BT / EE's coverage (theme index 1.82, net tone +12)

Notable positive coverage:

- 3 January 2026, express.co.uk: [UK broadband boost - EE dishes out ultimate Wi-Fi upgrade at 'lowest ever' price](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/2153131/EE-broadband-deal-lowest-ever-price). EE has cut prices for its full-fibre broadband plans, with packages starting at £26.99 and higher-speed 500Mbps and 900Mbps tiers also reduced. New customers receive EE's Wi-Fi 7 Smart Hub 7 Plus router with qualifying full-fibre plans.
- 5 February 2026, bloomberg.com: [BT Stems Customer Losses With Price Cuts and Network Investment](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-05/bt-stems-customer-losses-with-price-cuts-and-network-investment). BT reported lower-than-expected Openreach customer losses and maintained its earnings outlook as price cuts and network investment supported its turnaround. The article also notes fixed-line competition and subscriber losses at Openreach customer TalkTalk.
- 7 February 2026, express.co.uk: [EE customers get big boost as network beats Vodafone and O2](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/2167837/ee-customers-get-big-boost-network-beats-vodafone-o2). RootMetrics and Ookla ranked EE as the UK's leading mobile network for the second half of 2025, with wins across overall performance, reliability, speed and other measures. EE recorded a 114.1 Mbps aggregate median download speed, compared with 53.8 Mbps for Three.

Notable negative coverage:

- 10 June 2026, bbc.com: [Colchester villagers bemoan phone coverage after mast removal](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2093d357yo). Residents near Colchester report poor mobile coverage after a mast was removed because of an underground gas main. A replacement proposal serving EE and other operators was refused on landscape-impact grounds.
- 28 May 2026, independent.co.uk: [FTSE 100 slumps as US strikes test peace optimism](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/kuwait-dow-jones-industrial-average-donald-trump-iran-financial-times-b2985421.html). BT Group shares fell after the Financial Times reported that the UK Government would oppose Bharti Enterprises increasing its BT stake above 24.95%.
- 21 May 2026, bloomberg.com: [BT Forecasts Revenue Declines as Openreach Upgrade Nears End](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-21/bt-forecasts-revenue-declines-as-openreach-upgrade-nears-end). BT forecast 2027 revenue below analyst expectations as it seeks to reduce broadband losses and faces stronger competition. It is refocusing on the UK market while its fibre build approaches completion.

- [BT / EE deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1?entity=btee&view=deep-dive)
- [BT / EE PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1/reports/btee.pdf)

### Virgin Media O2

**Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises shaped Virgin Media O2's media profile during H1 2026**

Virgin Media O2 ranked 2nd of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (26.2%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for H1 2026, with 946 mentions and a net tone of +30.

February widened the profile through the O2 Satellite launch and nexfibre’s agreed £2 billion acquisition of Substantial Group, alongside reporting on customer losses and the 2026 earnings outlook. March paired switching offers with the 5G+ expansion and multiyear network agreements with Ericsson and Nokia. April and May brought a more mixed account, including full-fibre investment, service failures, scam warnings, the Monzo Mobile partnership and first-quarter declines in revenue, earnings and customer numbers. In June, products and network infrastructure were almost equally prominent as O2 set a 2029 date for its 2G shutdown and trialled personalised call audio for customers with hearing loss. January 2026: The Mirror reported O2’s ongoing completion of its UK 3G shutdown and the planned repurposing of spectrum for 4G and 5G. April 2026: share fell by 3.2 points to 25.2% while volume increased by 77; stories included nexfibre’s £2 million full-fibre investment plan for Derry City and Strabane and reported service failures in Bursledon and Northowram. June 2026: share rose by 3.1 points to 28.0% with volume up by eight; stories included the announced 2029 2G shutdown and the personalised call-audio trial with Mavenir. February 2026: Reuters reported the launch of the Starlink-powered O2 Satellite service for compatible smartphones.

Key messages:

- January 2026: The Mirror reported O2’s ongoing completion of its UK 3G shutdown and the planned repurposing of spectrum for 4G and 5G.
- Virgin Media O2 has added new Rakuten TV streaming channels to Virgin TV customers' packages at no extra charge. The article frames the move as part of pay-TV providers' response to streaming-platform competition.
- Virgin Media O2 is running O2 Priority Monday giveaways, including a year of O2 mobile or Virgin Media broadband bills being paid. The promotion also includes changing weekly offers and prize draws.
- Virgin Media O2 is providing 12,000 free mobile phones to people facing digital exclusion through its Community Calling initiative. The scheme supports vulnerable groups while reusing devices and reducing e-waste.
- Virgin Media is promoting limited-time broadband and TV bundles from £42.99 per month, including Netflix and more than 200 channels. The provider also offers up to £250 switching credit and highlights its 15.5 million-premise fibre network.
- Virgin Media O2-owned Giffgaff is offering promotional SIM-only plans with double or triple data allowances for six months. The offers include rolling monthly plans and encourage customers to switch their mobile number.

Leading themes:

- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 22.8% of Virgin Media O2's coverage (theme index 0.96, net tone +4)
- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 20.6% of Virgin Media O2's coverage (theme index 1.11, net tone +65)
- Products, devices & service launches: 16.7% of Virgin Media O2's coverage (theme index 1.29, net tone +76)

Notable positive coverage:

- 11 January 2026, express.co.uk: [All Virgin Media TV customers are getting a major new channel at no extra cost](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/2155869/all-virgin-media-tv-customers-major-new-channel). Virgin Media O2 is adding Premier Sports Rugby to Virgin TV set-top boxes at no extra charge for subscribers. The operator says the channel addition strengthens its pay-TV sports offering.
- 11 January 2026, express.co.uk: [O2 tackles your January blues with new eye-catching giveaways - how to enter](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/2155886/o2-tackles-your-january-blues-priority). Virgin Media O2 is running O2 Priority Monday giveaways, including a year of O2 mobile or Virgin Media broadband bills being paid. The promotion also includes changing weekly offers and prize draws.
- 22 January 2026, express.co.uk: [O2 to give 12,000 free mobile phones 'to people in need'](https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/2161252/o2-give-away-12000-free-mobile-phones). Virgin Media O2 is providing 12,000 free mobile phones to people facing digital exclusion through its Community Calling initiative. The scheme supports vulnerable groups while reusing devices and reducing e-waste.

Notable negative coverage:

- 18 February 2026, standard.co.uk: [Virgin Media O2 warns over profit drop in 2026 amid steep mobile customer losses](https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/daisy-b1271503.html). Virgin Media O2 warned that profit and sales will decline in 2026 amid mobile customer losses, promotional pressure and uncertainty in consumer fixed broadband. The company said it remains positioned to pursue opportunities in consumer, B2B and wholesale markets.
- 29 June 2026, ft.com: [Virgin Media O2 bonds slide as broadband rivals squeeze cash flow](https://www.ft.com/content/25d510cc-366e-4938-be2b-1553e587684d). Virgin Media O2's bonds and credit rating have weakened as fibre competition, high debt and expected declining revenue pressure cash flow. Its owners' Netomnia transaction is intended to expand the combined VMO2 and Nexfibre footprint to 20 million homes.
- 11 June 2026, thesun.co.uk: [Major phone network warns it's switching OFF dozens of mobile hotspot areas](https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/39371641/major-phone-network-switch-off-mobile-hotspots/). Virgin Media O2 says London planning rules are forcing removal of mobile sites faster than replacements can be approved, reducing coverage in some areas. It is calling for planning reforms to support mobile infrastructure.

- [Virgin Media O2 deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1?entity=virginmediao2&view=deep-dive)
- [Virgin Media O2 PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1/reports/virginmediao2.pdf)

### VodafoneThree

**VodafoneThree moves into second place as coverage broadens**

VodafoneThree ranked 3rd of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (19.6%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for H1 2026, with 717 mentions and a net tone of +24.

May’s 24.5% share coincided with primary independent reporting on Vodafone’s £4.3bn agreement to acquire full control of VodafoneThree and the launch of 5G home broadband. June shifted the emphasis back towards infrastructure through the expanded CityFibre agreement and Wimbledon network-slicing demonstration, while share fell to 18.7%. January 2026: Ofcom highlighted early merger benefits and VodafoneThree’s £11bn network commitment in mobilenewscwp.co.uk. February 2026: share rose 2.3 percentage points to 19.3% while stories included the connection of more than 8,000 sites to VodafoneThree’s multi-operator core network and reduced mobile not-spots. April 2026: share increased 5 percentage points to 21.5% alongside launches of Scam Call Protection and commercial enterprise network-slicing services. March 2026: VodafoneThree set out plans for UK direct-to-device satellite trials in telecoms.com. April 2026: VodafoneThree trialled a fibre-based terrestrial timing service with the National Physical Laboratory, reported by theengineer.co.uk. May 2026: Vodafone agreed to acquire CK Hutchison’s VodafoneThree stake for £4.3bn, reported by ft.com. June 2026: VodafoneThree expanded its CityFibre partnership for the 5G Standalone rollout, reported by telecomstechnews.com. Vodafone is promoting discounted SIM-only unlimited-data plans, including European and global roaming options. The article notes scheduled annual monthly price increases in 2026 and 2027.

Key messages:

- January 2026: Ofcom highlighted early merger benefits and VodafoneThree’s £11bn network commitment in mobilenewscwp.co.uk.
- Vodafone is promoting discounted SIM-only unlimited-data plans, including European and global roaming options. The article notes scheduled annual monthly price increases in 2026 and 2027.
- Three has warned more than 10 million customers not to share one-time passcodes with fraudsters impersonating the operator. The article also cites Ookla rankings that named Three the UK's fastest 5G network in late 2025.
- Vodafone Business is promoting 50% off selected business broadband plans for the first 12 months of 24- and 36-month contracts. The offer includes annual £3.50 price increases during the contract term.
- VodafoneThree says customers can benefit from the combined coverage of Vodafone and Three as its networks are integrated. It says upgrades at more than 8,000 UK sites will reduce mobile not-spots and has launched a postcode checker.
- VodafoneThree will combine Vodafone and Three stores under one roof following the merger, while retaining a presence in every town where it currently operates. The programme includes investment in repair and support services and flagship stores in major UK cities.

Leading themes:

- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 18.4% of VodafoneThree's coverage (theme index 0.96, net tone +47)
- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 18.1% of VodafoneThree's coverage (theme index 0.73, net tone −10)
- Products, devices & service launches: 15.8% of VodafoneThree's coverage (theme index 1.17, net tone +73)

Notable positive coverage:

- 8 January 2026, dailymail.co.uk: [Get unlimited data for less with Vodafone's SIM-only plans](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/buyline/article-15438283/New-year-new-phone-unlimited-data-Vodafones-SIM-plans-budgets-needs.html). Vodafone is promoting discounted SIM-only unlimited-data plans, including European and global roaming options. The article notes scheduled annual monthly price increases in 2026 and 2027.
- 31 January 2026, mirror.co.uk: [Three Mobile send message to over 10 million customers as it asks 'please do not'](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/three-mobile-send-message-over-36628228). Three has warned more than 10 million customers not to share one-time passcodes with fraudsters impersonating the operator. The article also cites Ookla rankings that named Three the UK's fastest 5G network in late 2025.
- 20 February 2026, dailymail.co.uk: [Save 50% on your broadband plan for a year with Vodafone Business](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/buyline/home-garden/article-15564047/Dont-let-slow-Wi-Fi-hold-business-Save-50-broadband-plan-entire-YEAR-Vodafone-Business.html). Vodafone Business is promoting 50% off selected business broadband plans for the first 12 months of 24- and 36-month contracts. The offer includes annual £3.50 price increases during the contract term.

Notable negative coverage:

- 11 February 2026, theguardian.com: ['Unsustainable' gaps in policing of franchise businesses must end, MPs say](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/11/unsustainable-gaps-policing-franchise-businesses-mps). MPs have called for stronger oversight of franchise businesses following allegations involving Vodafone franchisees and a High Court claim over alleged imbalances of power in agreements. Vodafone contests the claim and has denied pushing a former franchisee into poorly performing stores.
- 7 January 2026, theguardian.com: [Starmer vows to review franchise legislation in response to Vodafone case](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/07/starmer-vows-to-review-franchise-legislation-in-response-to-vodafone-case). The prime minister said the government would examine the outcome of legal claims by former Vodafone franchisees and may review franchise legislation. Vodafone contests the claims and says its franchise operation remains successful.
- 5 May 2026, express.co.uk: [Iconic seaside town has UK's worst mobile phone signal -- 'tourists won't return'](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/2202032/worst-mobile-phone-signal-in-UK). Tenby has been identified as the UK location with the poorest average mobile connection quality, with a decommissioned mast affecting local businesses and visitors. VodafoneThree, Virgin Media O2 and EE said they were pursuing measures to restore or improve coverage.

- [VodafoneThree deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1?entity=vodafonethree&view=deep-dive)
- [VodafoneThree PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1/reports/vodafonethree.pdf)

### Sky

**Sky stayed fourth as coverage broadened beyond price rises**

Sky ranked 4th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (12.3%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for H1 2026, with 471 mentions and a net tone of +11.

Visibility was highest in January and February at 16.6% and 16.5%, before falling sharply to 8.4% in March; the rank nevertheless remained unchanged. April’s recovery to 12.0% coincided with a broader agenda that included the launch of Sky Smart Home, revised broadband pricing language and discounted full-fibre packages. May introduced a substantial corporate strand through talks to acquire ITV’s Media & Entertainment division, alongside handset promotions and the expansion of mobile roaming to 120 destinations. Stories in June included Comcast’s plan to place Sky in a separately listed media business, lower-priced television and broadband bundles and a wider range of full-fibre packages. January 2026: Sky Mobile confirmed its first mid-contract price increase in more than seven years — The Mirror. February 2026: share edged down 0.1 points to 16.5% while volume rose to 121; stories included Sky’s announcement of April broadband and television price increases. April 2026: Sky launched its standalone Smart Home security service from £5 per month — ISPReview. May 2026: Sky advanced talks to acquire ITV’s Media & Entertainment unit in a proposed £1.6 billion deal — Reuters. Sky is promoting discounted full-fibre broadband packages and up to £200 towards switching costs before its January sale ends. The article compares Sky's anticipated price rises and cancellation terms with those of BT, EE and Virgin Media.

Key messages:

- January 2026: Sky Mobile confirmed its first mid-contract price increase in more than seven years — The Mirror.
- Sky is promoting discounted full-fibre broadband packages and up to £200 towards switching costs before its January sale ends. The article compares Sky's anticipated price rises and cancellation terms with those of BT, EE and Virgin Media.
- Sky has launched January promotions on TV, streaming and fibre-broadband bundles, including discounted Sky Glass hardware and Full Fibre packages. It is also offering switching-cost credits of up to £300 for eligible new TV and broadband customers.
- Sky is offering the iPhone 16e from £19 per month when paired with a £5 mobile plan, subject to a 36-month agreement and £12 upfront fee. The article compares the total cost with buying the handset outright and using a separate SIM.
- Sky Mobile has cut the price of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra by £432, with handset and data-plan pricing detailed. The offer comes ahead of expected Samsung Galaxy S26 launches.
- Sky increased broadband prices by £3 a month from 1 April, alongside rises to some TV packages. The article suggests customers could use an existing Sky satellite dish to access free Freesat channels after leaving Sky.

Leading themes:

- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 47.3% of Sky's coverage (theme index 2.37, net tone −4)
- Products, devices & service launches: 24.8% of Sky's coverage (theme index 2.02, net tone +56)
- Competition & market dynamics: 7.0% of Sky's coverage (theme index 0.91, net tone −3)

Notable positive coverage:

- 7 January 2026, express.co.uk: [Sky dishes out £300 to shoppers switching their TV and broadband](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/2154620/sky-pay-new-customers-300-switching-costs-winter-sale). Sky is offering new TV and full-fibre broadband customers up to £300 towards rival-provider exit fees, and broadband-only switchers up to £200. Its sale includes discounted 150Mbps and 500Mbps broadband plans and bundled Sky Stream TV packages.
- 7 January 2026, mirror.co.uk: [Sky TV plummets to 14p a day alongside 'lowest' streaming price](https://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/sky-glass-tv-january-sale-36510192). Sky has launched January promotions on TV, streaming and fibre-broadband bundles, including discounted Sky Glass hardware and Full Fibre packages. It is also offering switching-cost credits of up to £300 for eligible new TV and broadband customers.
- 27 January 2026, express.co.uk: [Days left on Sky's TV, mobile and broadband sales as deadline draws near](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/2163126/deadlines-beat-skys-tv-mbile). Sky is promoting time-limited discounts on full-fibre broadband, bundled TV and mobile handset plans, including switching credits. The article also notes a Virgin Media entertainment and broadband offer.

Notable negative coverage:

- 1 April 2026, express.co.uk: [Slash Sky bills to £0 with dish trick after April price rise](https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/2189273/slash-sky-bills-0-dish). Sky increased broadband prices by £3 a month from 1 April, alongside rises to some TV packages. The article suggests customers could use an existing Sky satellite dish to access free Freesat channels after leaving Sky.
- 31 March 2026, express.co.uk: [Sky customers hit with £36 price rise from April](https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/2188902/sky-customers-hit-price-rise-april). Sky increased prices for broadband, home phone and some TV packages from 1 April, with most broadband customers paying £3 more per month. The company said the changes support network and service investment while addressing higher costs.
- 16 March 2026, dailymail.co.uk: [Sky broadband customers have DAYS left to avoid £36 bill hike](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/bills/article-15643663/sky-broadband-customers-days-left-avoid-bill-hike-you-save-money-switching.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490). Sky Broadband customers face a £3 monthly increase from April 1 but may leave without early-termination fees because the increase was not agreed upfront. The article compares alternative providers offering price freezes through 2027.

- [Sky deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1?entity=sky&view=deep-dive)
- [Sky PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1/reports/sky.pdf)

### CityFibre

**CityFibre’s visibility grew around scale, partnerships and consolidation**

CityFibre ranked 5th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (4.3%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for H1 2026, with 152 mentions and a net tone of +36.

January coverage combined record 2025 revenue and connection growth with nationwide business broadband availability, acquisition ambitions and plans to cut about 450 jobs. After visibility fell to 2.6% and sixth place in February, March returned CityFibre to fifth as stories included its nationwide 8.5Gbps wholesale launch and further local network expansion. May’s Project Gigabit re-scoping placed rural delivery and the reduced need for subsidies at the centre of the agenda. June widened the profile through the one-million-connections milestone, a mobile-backhaul agreement with VodafoneThree and the Future Ready Learners programme. Visibility peaked in June 2026 at 6.5%, compared with 2.6% in February 2026. January 2026: CityFibre reported £170 million of 2025 revenue and 848,000 connections — Computer Weekly. February 2026: share fell 2.8 points to 2.6% and rank moved from fifth to sixth; CityFibre criticised Liberty Global’s planned acquisition of Netomnia and awarded £50,000 for Suffolk digital-inclusion projects. June 2026: share rose 3.5 points to 6.5% on 33 mentions; CityFibre passed one million connections and expanded its VodafoneThree partnership into mobile backhaul. May 2026: CityFibre and BDUK re-scoped Project Gigabit contracts as commercial rollout reduced subsidy requirements — Total Telecom. CityFibre has made its small-business and home-worker FTTP services available across 4.5 million premises. The expansion follows completion of its 10Gb XGS-PON network upgrade and includes symmetrical speeds up to 2.5Gbps.

Key messages:

- Visibility peaked in June 2026 at 6.5%, compared with 2.6% in February 2026.
- January 2026: CityFibre reported £170 million of 2025 revenue and 848,000 connections — Computer Weekly.
- CityFibre has launched an 8.5Gbps wholesale product across its XGS-PON full-fibre network, available to ISP partners from 21 April. The company says its footprint exceeds 4.7 million premises and is targeting eight million premises.
- CityFibre has made its symmetrical business FTTP products available across its entire ready-for-service footprint of 4.33 million addresses. The XGS-PON-based service offers speeds up to 2.5Gbps and faster fault-repair commitments for business users.
- Research firm Point Topic identifies CityFibre as the best potential acquirer of rural fibre provider Gigaclear. It cites the companies' largely complementary network footprints and limited premises overlap.
- CityFibre is reportedly planning to cut around 450 jobs, nearly a third of its workforce, as it changes its operating structure following new funding arrangements. Separately, Virgin Media O2's O2 has expanded 5G standalone coverage across several Dorset towns.

Leading themes:

- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 37.5% of CityFibre's coverage (theme index 2.05, net tone +63)
- Mergers, M&A & consolidation: 19.7% of CityFibre's coverage (theme index 2.93, net tone −13)
- Financial results & corporate strategy: 13.2% of CityFibre's coverage (theme index 1.69, net tone +15)

Notable positive coverage:

- 14 January 2026, telecomtv.com: [What's up with... Euro LEO plans, CityFibre, FWA growth](https://www.telecomtv.com/content/access-evolution/what-s-up-with-euro-leo-plans-cityfibre-fwa-growth-54651/). CityFibre has appointed Neil McRae as CTIO and highlighted its nationwide XGS-PON network, rollout ambitions and wholesale customer base. The roundup also reports Virgin Media O2's Stamford Bridge mobile-network upgrade.
- 20 January 2026, telecoms.com: [CityFibre boosts FTTP availability to small businesses](https://www.telecoms.com/fibre/cityfibre-boosts-fttp-availability-to-small-businesses). CityFibre has made its small-business and home-worker FTTP services available across 4.5 million premises. The expansion follows completion of its 10Gb XGS-PON network upgrade and includes symmetrical speeds up to 2.5Gbps.
- 20 January 2026, thinkbroadband.com: [CityFibre enables FTTP business broadband network-wide](https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/cityfibre-enables-fttp-business-broadband-network-wide). CityFibre has made its symmetrical business FTTP products available across its entire ready-for-service footprint of 4.33 million addresses. The XGS-PON-based service offers speeds up to 2.5Gbps and faster fault-repair commitments for business users.

Notable negative coverage:

- 29 January 2026, lightreading.com: [Eurobites: CityFibre to lay off third of staff - report](https://www.lightreading.com/fttx/eurobites-cityfibre-to-lay-off-third-of-staff-report). CityFibre is reportedly planning to cut around 450 jobs, nearly a third of its workforce, as it changes its operating structure following new funding arrangements. Separately, Virgin Media O2's O2 has expanded 5G standalone coverage across several Dorset towns.
- 28 January 2026, telecompaper.com: [CityFibre to cut third of staff as focus shifts to acquisitions - report](https://www.telecompaper.com/news/cityfibre-to-cut-third-of-staff-as-focus-shifts-to-acquisitions-report--1560567). CityFibre is reportedly planning to cut about 450 jobs, roughly a third of its workforce. The wholesale fibre operator is said to be shifting emphasis from self-build construction toward growth through acquisitions.
- 29 January 2026, sharecast.com: [LLoyds posts better-than-expected FY profit growth, EasyJet reiterates FY guidance](https://www.sharecast.com/news/market-live-email/lloyds-posts-better-than-expected-fy-profit-growth-easyjet-reiterates-fy-guidance--21570805.html). CityFibre is reportedly planning to cut 450 jobs as it shifts from building its full-fibre network towards acquiring struggling rivals. The reported restructuring is linked to debt pressures and expected broadband-sector consolidation.

- [CityFibre deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1?entity=cityfibre&view=deep-dive)
- [CityFibre PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1/reports/cityfibre.pdf)

### TalkTalk

**Restructuring and service scrutiny defined TalkTalk’s media profile**

TalkTalk ranked 6th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (3.5%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for H1 2026, with 132 mentions and a net tone of −33.

January coverage centred on reported discussions with prospective buyers for the consumer and wholesale divisions. February’s rise to 5.0% coincided with full-fibre promotions, the separation of TalkTalk Business and Ofcom complaints reporting. The share fell to 3.0% in March, when TalkTalk’s price freeze for new full-fibre customers was the principal company-focused development. April brought renewed corporate scrutiny through Ovo Energy’s legal claim over the 2022 broadband-customer transaction, alongside the transfer of 3,000 Origin Broadband customers. May 2026: share fell 1.5 percentage points to 2.2% and rank moved from fifth to sixth; Ofcom reporting identified TalkTalk and Vodafone as the most complained-about broadband providers. June 2026: share rose 1.9 percentage points to 4.1% while rank remained sixth; stories included VodafoneThree’s reported bid for TalkTalk’s consumer division. February 2026: Mobile News reported that TalkTalk Business had completed its separation from the parent group. TalkTalk has cut its Full Fibre 150 broadband price to £24 per month, positioning it as cheaper and faster than cited BT and Sky offers. The article also notes planned April price rises for TalkTalk, BT and Sky customers. Ovo Energy is suing TalkTalk over unpaid sums linked to TalkTalk's 2022 acquisition of approximately 135,000 former SSE Phone & Broadband customers. The dispute follows customer losses that reduced the transaction's value, while TalkTalk is also seeking to sell divisions.

Key messages:

- January 2026: Total Telecom reported that TalkTalk was seeking buyers for its PXC and consumer units.
- TalkTalk has cut its Full Fibre 150 broadband price to £24 per month, positioning it as cheaper and faster than cited BT and Sky offers. The article also notes planned April price rises for TalkTalk, BT and Sky customers.
- TalkTalk Business has completed its operational separation from TalkTalk Group and is now operating as an independent managed network service provider. It plans to expand managed connectivity, cloud, cyber security and enterprise technology services.
- Ovo Energy is suing TalkTalk over unpaid sums linked to TalkTalk's 2022 acquisition of approximately 135,000 former SSE Phone & Broadband customers. The dispute follows customer losses that reduced the transaction's value, while TalkTalk is also seeking to sell divisions.
- VodafoneThree has reportedly submitted a second-round bid for TalkTalk's consumer broadband division, which has about 1.75 million customers. TalkTalk is also exploring a sale of its wholesale arm PXC amid financial pressure and customer losses.
- TalkTalk customers experienced a brief widespread UK broadband outage on March 25, with Cloudflare traffic falling by nearly 50%. TalkTalk said full service was restored in approximately one hour but did not disclose the cause.

Leading themes:

- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 30.3% of TalkTalk's coverage (theme index 1.3, net tone −10)
- Customer service, outages & reliability: 13.6% of TalkTalk's coverage (theme index 1.99, net tone −72)
- Mergers, M&A & consolidation: 12.1% of TalkTalk's coverage (theme index 1.71, net tone −50)

Notable positive coverage:

- 3 February 2026, express.co.uk: [TalkTalk's £24 broadband beats BT and Sky with one selling point](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/2166206/talktalk-beats-bt-sky-24). TalkTalk has reduced its Full Fibre 150 broadband plan to £24 per month on an 18-month contract. The article compares its price and speed with BT and Sky broadband plans, and outlines TalkTalk's faster tiers.
- 4 February 2026, examinerlive.co.uk: [TalkTalk beats BT and Sky with £24 fibre monthly 150Mbs broadband deal - Yorkshire Live](https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/talktalk-beats-bt-sky-24-33361028). TalkTalk has cut its Full Fibre 150 broadband price to £24 per month, positioning it as cheaper and faster than cited BT and Sky offers. The article also notes planned April price rises for TalkTalk, BT and Sky customers.
- 16 February 2026, telecompaper.com: [TalkTalk unveils new full-fibre broadband promotions](https://www.telecompaper.com/news/talktalk-unveils-new-full-fibre-broadband-promotions--1562420). TalkTalk has launched time-limited UK full-fibre promotions for its 150 Mbps, 500 Mbps and 900 Mbps packages. The offers include monthly prices from £24 to £36 and reward cards on selected contracts.

Notable negative coverage:

- 11 April 2026, telegraph.co.uk: [Ovo Energy sues TalkTalk over botched takeover](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/11/ovo-energy-sues-talktalk-over-botched-takeover/). Ovo Energy has sued TalkTalk over unpaid sums linked to its 2022 acquisition of 135,000 broadband customers. The report details TalkTalk's heavy debt, customer losses, supplier-payment arrears and search for a buyer.
- 9 June 2026, cityam.com: [VodafoneThree enters race for TalkTalk customers with takeover bid](https://www.cityam.com/vodafonethree-enters-race-for-talktalk-customers-with-takeover-bid/). VodafoneThree has reportedly submitted a second-round bid for TalkTalk's consumer broadband division, which has about 1.75 million customers. TalkTalk is also exploring a sale of its wholesale arm PXC amid financial pressure and customer losses.
- 12 April 2026, cityam.com: [Ovo sues Talktalk over failed broadband customer deal](https://www.cityam.com/ovo-sues-talktalk-over-failed-broadband-customer-deal/). Ovo Energy is suing TalkTalk over unpaid milestone payments related to the 2022 transfer of 135,000 broadband customers. The article highlights TalkTalk's customer attrition, debt burden, funding needs and overdue supplier payments.

- [TalkTalk deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1?entity=talktalk&view=deep-dive)
- [TalkTalk PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1/reports/talktalk.pdf)

### Community Fibre

**Community Fibre balances value offers with strategic change**

Community Fibre ranked 7th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (2.2%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for H1 2026, with 81 mentions and a net tone of +57.

It opened at 3.8% and sixth place in January before falling to 0.4% and eighth in February. Its share recovered to 2.3% in March and 2.8% in April, while its rank improved to seventh. January’s independent editorial coverage paired 48% revenue growth to £113 million and higher EBITDA with Community Fibre’s decision not to acquire G.Network’s assets because of structural and repair concerns. March and April centred on price competition, including discounted 2.5Gbps service, doubled speeds and a faster £12.50 social tariff. June stories included planned expansion of the London fibre footprint by 600,000 premises, while separate reporting said the owners of Community Fibre and Hyperoptic were exploring sales. Visibility peaked in January 2026 at 3.8%, compared with 0.4% in February 2026. February 2026: share fell 3.4 percentage points to 0.4% and rank moved from sixth to eighth; contextual mentions included Computer Weekly’s reference to Community Fibre’s previously reported revenue growth. March 2026: Community Fibre discounted its 2.5Gbps broadband plan to £27 per month in Telecompaper. April 2026: Community Fibre doubled its Essentials social-tariff speed to 70Mbps at £12.50 in Telecompaper. Community Fibre has launched a limited-time offer giving new full-fibre customers three months free. The sale covers 100Mbps, 300Mbps and 1Gbps packages on 12-month contracts.

Key messages:

- Visibility peaked in January 2026 at 3.8%, compared with 0.4% in February 2026.
- January 2026: Community Fibre reported 48% revenue growth to £113 million and higher EBITDA in Telecoms.com.
- Community Fibre has relaunched a promotion doubling the speeds of selected broadband packages, including its £12.50-per-month Essentials social tariff. The 35Mbps social tariff rises to 70Mbps without eligibility checks for benefits or mid-contract price increases.
- Community Fibre has introduced a promotion offering discounts of up to 25% on selected 24-month full-fibre packages until 3 June 2026. The article also notes that its annual price increase from April 2027 has risen from £2 to £3 per month.
- G Network, a London high-speed broadband provider, has entered administration after reported rodent damage to fibre cables raised repair costs. Community Fibre abandoned a potential acquisition of the operator's assets due to concerns about the cost and structural condition of the network.
- The article says millions of eligible UK households are not claiming broadband social tariffs, missing average savings of about £220 annually. It lists social-tariff offerings from major providers and smaller regional fibre providers.

Leading themes:

- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 50.6% of Community Fibre's coverage (theme index 2.21, net tone +83)
- Mergers, M&A & consolidation: 18.5% of Community Fibre's coverage (theme index 2.64, net tone +7)
- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 8.6% of Community Fibre's coverage (theme index 0.45, net tone +43)

Notable positive coverage:

- 15 January 2026, telecompaper.com: [Community Fibre offers three months free with flash sale](https://www.telecompaper.com/news/community-fibre-offers-three-months-free-with-flash-sale--1559344). Community Fibre has launched a limited-time offer giving new full-fibre customers three months free. The sale covers 100Mbps, 300Mbps and 1Gbps packages on 12-month contracts.
- 29 January 2026, thinkbroadband.com: [One in ten Londoners now use Community Fibre](https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/one-in-ten-londoners-now-use-community-fibre). Community Fibre reported 48% annual revenue growth to £113 million and EBITDA of £49.8 million. It said 429,000 customers use its network, representing a 32% take-up rate, and that it has passed more than 1.3 million London homes.
- 12 March 2026, telecompaper.com: [Community Fibre discounts 2.5 Gbps plan to GBP 27 per month](https://www.telecompaper.com/news/community-fibre-discounts-25-gbps-plan-to-gbp-27-per-month--1565088). Community Fibre launched a flash sale offering its 2.5 Gbps broadband plan for £27 per month on a two-year contract, reduced from £39. It compares the offer with Virgin Media's 2 Gbps service.

- [Community Fibre deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1?entity=communityfibre&view=deep-dive)
- [Community Fibre PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1/reports/communityfibre.pdf)

### Hyperoptic

**Hyperoptic’s visibility broadened but remained competitively constrained**

Hyperoptic ranked 8th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (1.6%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for H1 2026, with 56 mentions and a net tone of +23.

Its monthly position improved from eighth in January to seventh in February and sixth in March, before returning to eighth for the rest of the window. January coverage centred on the planned £4 monthly bill increase and appointments spanning customer experience, service delivery and digital systems. February’s smaller profile included Hyperoptic research on broadband overpayment and switching reluctance. March reached 3.6%, the company’s highest monthly share, but the captured stories were contextual references within wider reporting on April price rises, price freezes and switching. April combined direct comparisons with Virgin Media, Sky, Community Fibre and BT, the launch of customer rewards and reports of an outage in southeast London and Kent. May fell to three mentions, all contextual references within independent reporting on altnet debt, refinancing and consolidation pressures. June brought company-focused reporting on potential sales by Hyperoptic’s owners and primary evidence concerning World Cup network-traffic peaks. Visibility peaked in March 2026 at 3.6%, compared with 0.6% in May 2026. January 2026: The Mirror reported Hyperoptic’s planned £4 monthly bill increase after its earlier opposition to mid-contract rises. February 2026: Telecompaper covered Hyperoptic research indicating that many broadband customers could be overpaying and were reluctant to switch.

Key messages:

- Visibility peaked in March 2026 at 3.6%, compared with 0.6% in May 2026.
- January 2026: The Mirror reported Hyperoptic’s planned £4 monthly bill increase after its earlier opposition to mid-contract rises.
- Hyperoptic has appointed a Customer Experience and Service Director and a Head of Customer Service. The roles will oversee end-to-end customer experience and day-to-day service delivery.
- Hyperoptic has made senior appointments intended to align customer-experience strategy and operational delivery. It is investing in digital customer journeys, generative AI support, and replacement of legacy systems.
- Hyperoptic research says many UK broadband customers may be overpaying and remain reluctant to switch despite dissatisfaction with prices. The article cites Ofcom data showing 1.6 million people used One Touch Switch in the past year.
- Hyperoptic has launched a customer Rewards feature offering discounts and perks through its My Account platform. The scheme includes offers from brands such as Ocado, Gousto and Jet2 Holidays.

Leading themes:

- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 42.9% of Hyperoptic's coverage (theme index 1.84, net tone +21)
- Regulation & policy (Ofcom, CMA): 14.3% of Hyperoptic's coverage (theme index 2.3, net tone +13)
- Mergers, M&A & consolidation: 10.7% of Hyperoptic's coverage (theme index 1.48, net tone −17)

Notable positive coverage:

- 15 January 2026, telecompaper.com: [Hyperoptic appoints customer experience, service directors](https://www.telecompaper.com/news/hyperoptic-appoints-customer-experience-service-directors--1559321). Hyperoptic has appointed a Customer Experience and Service Director and a Head of Customer Service. The roles will oversee end-to-end customer experience and day-to-day service delivery.
- 15 January 2026, advanced-television.com: [Hyperoptic makes senior appointments](https://www.advanced-television.com/2026/01/15/hyperoptic-makes-senior-appointments/). Hyperoptic has made senior appointments intended to align customer-experience strategy and operational delivery. It is investing in digital customer journeys, generative AI support, and replacement of legacy systems.
- 13 February 2026, telecompaper.com: [Hyperoptic study shows half of Brits could be overpaying for broadband](https://www.telecompaper.com/news/hyperoptic-study-shows-half-of-brits-could-be-overpaying-for-broadband--1562304). Hyperoptic research says many UK broadband customers may be overpaying and remain reluctant to switch despite dissatisfaction with prices. The article cites Ofcom data showing 1.6 million people used One Touch Switch in the past year.

Notable negative coverage:

- 7 January 2026, mirror.co.uk: [Broadband provider hikes bills after ditching 'no mid-contract price rise' promise](https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/broadband-provider-hikes-bills-after-36509897). Hyperoptic will raise monthly bills by £4 from April 2026 for new and existing broadband customers, despite its previous position against mid-contract price rises. The article also lists forthcoming price rises affecting Sky Mobile, O2, Three and Vodafone customers.
- 7 April 2026, thinkbroadband.com: [Reports of Hyperoptic Outages in Southeast London and Kent yesterday](https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/reports-of-hyperoptic-outages-in-southeast-london-and-kent-yesterday). Hyperoptic customers in southeast London and Kent reported a connectivity outage lasting several hours on Bank Holiday Monday. Some users also reported difficulty reaching customer support, although service appears to have been restored.
- 6 January 2026, birminghammail.co.uk: [Major UK broadband provider hikes bills after dropping 'no price rise' promise - Birmingham Live](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/major-uk-broadband-provider-hikes-33175313). Hyperoptic will raise the in-contract annual price increase for new broadband customers from up to £3 to up to £4 a month from April. The move contrasts with its previous public position against mid-contract price rises.

- [Hyperoptic deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1?entity=hyperoptic&view=deep-dive)
- [Hyperoptic PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1/reports/hyperoptic.pdf)

## Methodology

- **Share of coverage**: an organisation's mentions divided by all mentions of the organisations tracked in the same sector that month, in UK earned media. It is the central measure of media visibility in Omniscan benchmarks. "Average monthly share" is the mean of the monthly shares across the reporting period.
- **Mention**: one article that covers an organisation, classified as positive, neutral or negative in tone. Articles are deduplicated, and an organisation's own websites and passing sponsorship name-checks are excluded, so only earned media counts.
- **Net tone**: positive mentions minus negative mentions, as a percentage of all mentions (range −100 to +100).
- **Themes**: every article is assigned to one of the sector's editorial themes. A theme index above 1 means the organisation is covered on that theme more than its peers are; below 1 means less.
- **Calculation**: every figure is computed directly from the classified articles; narrative summaries are checked against those figures.
- **Sources**: UK national and international, trade and specialist, regional and local, and aggregator and syndication earned media.

## Other UK Telecoms editions

- [UK telecoms media reputation tracker – 2026 year to date](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-ytd.md)
- [UK telecoms media reputation tracker – July 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-07.md)
- [UK telecoms media reputation tracker – August 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-08.md)
- [UK telecoms media reputation tracker – September 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09.md)
- [All Omniscan media benchmarks](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks.md)

## How to cite

Omniscan, "UK telecoms media reputation tracker", H1 2026 (1 January 2026–30 June 2026), published 1 September 2026. https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1