---
title: UK telecoms media reputation tracker – 2026 year to date
canonical_url: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-ytd
type: dataset
publisher: Omniscan
sector: UK Telecoms
period: 2026 year to date
coverage_start: '2026-01-01'
coverage_end: '2026-09-30'
date_published: '2026-10-04'
last_updated: '2026-10-04'
organisations: 8
articles_analysed: 5005
mentions: 6395
data_download: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-ytd/data.json
summary: BT / EE had the highest average monthly share of coverage (30.8%) among 8
  operators in UK earned media from 1 January 2026 to 30 September 2026, ahead of
  Virgin Media O2 (25.5%) and VodafoneThree (21.1%).
---

# UK telecoms media reputation tracker: 2026 year to date (1 January 2026–30 September 2026)

> BT / EE had the highest average monthly share of coverage (30.8%) among 8 operators in UK earned media from 1 January 2026 to 30 September 2026, ahead of Virgin Media O2 (25.5%) and VodafoneThree (21.1%). Community Fibre had the most favourable net tone (+51). Omniscan analysed 5,005 articles containing 6,395 mentions of the operators tracked.

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

## UK Telecoms ranking by share of coverage, 2026 year to date

| Rank | Organisation | Average monthly share of coverage | Mentions | Positive | Neutral | Negative | Net tone |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | BT / EE | 30.8% | 1,964 | 35% | 45% | 20% | +15 |
| 2 | Virgin Media O2 | 25.5% | 1,619 | 45% | 36% | 19% | +26 |
| 3 | VodafoneThree | 21.1% | 1,376 | 49% | 36% | 15% | +33 |
| 4 | Sky | 10.7% | 673 | 37% | 43% | 20% | +16 |
| 5 | CityFibre | 4.3% | 272 | 37% | 56% | 7% | +30 |
| 6 | TalkTalk | 4.0% | 266 | 7% | 38% | 55% | −47 |
| 7 | Community Fibre | 2.2% | 142 | 53% | 45% | 2% | +51 |
| 8 | Hyperoptic | 1.4% | 83 | 46% | 41% | 13% | +33 |

## Monthly share of coverage, UK Telecoms

| Organisation | January 2026 | February 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 | May 2026 | June 2026 | July 2026 | August 2026 | September 2026 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BT / EE | 29.5% | 28.2% | 32.8% | 29.4% | 33.1% | 29.1% | 28.6% | 31.8% | 34.6% |
| Virgin Media O2 | 23.5% | 27.3% | 28.2% | 26.1% | 24.9% | 28.3% | 28.4% | 20.1% | 22.6% |
| VodafoneThree | 17.0% | 19.2% | 16.5% | 22.7% | 24.5% | 18.4% | 22.8% | 24.6% | 23.8% |
| Sky | 16.6% | 16.5% | 8.4% | 11.3% | 10.4% | 9.8% | 7.5% | 9.7% | 6.6% |
| CityFibre | 5.3% | 2.6% | 5.3% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 6.6% | 6.0% | 2.9% | 4.0% |
| TalkTalk | 3.0% | 5.1% | 3.1% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 4.0% | 2.5% | 6.4% | 6.5% |
| Community Fibre | 3.8% | 0.4% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 3.2% | 1.7% |
| Hyperoptic | 1.3% | 0.7% | 3.6% | 2.0% | 0.6% | 1.4% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.2% |

## Operators in detail

### BT / EE

**Fibre transition and regulation define BT / EE’s media lead**

BT / EE ranked 1st of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (30.8%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 1,964 mentions and a net tone of +15.

BT / EE ranked first in every measured month from January to September, with 30.7% of tracked-company mentions across the period and a 30.8% average monthly share. Its share ranged from 28.2% in February to 34.6% in September, while the leadership position remained unchanged. Early coverage centred on the Digital Voice transition, including stop-sell notices, disruption affecting vulnerable customers and BT and EE price increases. February added scrutiny of falling revenue and broadband losses, alongside Katie Milligan’s appointment to lead Openreach and further full-fibre expansion. The spring agenda broadened through Openreach’s use of Google technology to support its fibre rollout, rural Project Gigabit work and EE’s wider 5G+ availability. May brought BT’s higher £3.7 billion cost-saving target, record fibre demand and reported interest from Bharti Enterprises in potentially increasing its stake. BT’s UK refocus then gained another dimension in June through the planned international enterprise joint venture with Verizon. In July, the measured volume rose sharply as stories included BT’s quarterly performance, further landline stop-sell notices and Ofcom’s proposal to block an Openreach wholesale discount. August combined network innovation through EE’s Fast Lane service and Openreach’s wider XGS-PON deployment with continued reporting on activation fees and office relocation. September produced the period’s highest share and volume as Ofcom ordered Openreach to withdraw the discount, while EE refreshed its television packages and BT promoted broadband security features.

Key messages:

- BT / EE accounted for 30.7% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #1 among 8.
- Coverage concentrated on Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre) and Financial results & corporate strategy.
- Visibility peaked in September 2026 at 34.6%, compared with 28.2% in February 2026.
- January 2026: The Telegraph reported that BT’s Digital Voice migration had allegedly left vulnerable and rural customers without working landlines.

Leading themes:

- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 23.5% of BT / EE's coverage (theme index 1.44, net tone +55)
- Financial results & corporate strategy: 13.3% of BT / EE's coverage (theme index 1.64, net tone +6)
- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 12.4% of BT / EE's coverage (theme index 0.6, net tone −25)

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:

- 28 September 2026, standard.co.uk: [BT’s Openreach ordered by Ofcom to pull new customer deal](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/openreach-ofcom-virgin-media-sky-vodafone-b1298620.html). Ofcom ordered BT-owned Openreach to withdraw a proposed wholesale full-fibre discount, judging it unfair and potentially harmful to sustainable broadband competition. Virgin Media welcomed the intervention and called for stronger oversight of Openreach.
- 31 July 2026, express.co.uk: [BT broadband users face new £30 router fee and here's who is affected](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/2234804/bt-broadband-users-face-new). BT is introducing a £30 joining fee for new broadband customers, with EE also charging £30 and Plusnet £20. Rival providers including Virgin Media, Community Fibre and Vodafone are cited as offering free setup.
- 28 September 2026, theregister.com: [Ofcom pulls the plug on Openreach's aggressive fiber discount](https://www.theregister.com/networks/2026/09/28/ofcom-pulls-the-plug-on-openreachs-aggressive-fiber-discount/5299427). Ofcom has permanently blocked Openreach's Incremental New to Openreach FTTP discount, saying it could prevent efficient rival networks from recovering their costs. The regulator allowed several other Openreach commercial offers, including a smaller offer in Virgin Media O2 areas, to proceed.

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

### Virgin Media O2

**Network investment met mounting regulatory and financial scrutiny**

Virgin Media O2 ranked 2nd of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (25.5%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 1,619 mentions and a net tone of +26.

Virgin Media O2 ranked second across the nine-month period, with 25.3% of tracked-company mentions and a 25.5% average monthly share. It held second place from January through July before falling to third in August and remaining there in September. Early coverage combined the 3G shutdown and standalone 5G expansion with broadband pricing, television additions and customer-service initiatives. February broadened the agenda through the O2 Satellite launch, nexfibre’s proposed acquisition of Substantial Group and reporting on customer losses and lower forecast earnings. Spring coverage paired network modernisation agreements with Ericsson and Nokia with full-fibre investment, scam warnings and service-reliability cases. In May and June, product and partnership stories included Monzo Mobile, the extension of O2 Satellite to compatible iPhones and a personalised call-audio trial for customers with hearing loss. July brought the period’s highest volume and extensive reporting on Ofcom’s £28 million cancellation-handling fine, alongside the 500th Giga Site and automated television-service monitoring. August’s lower share coincided with coverage of Westminster small cells, Gig2 expansion and a new Tennis Channel, but Virgin Media O2 dropped behind another tracked operator. September’s partial recovery included 5G+ expansion in Northern Ireland, new small-cell deployments and a broadband-fault voice agent, while reporting also examined proposed cost reductions, debt and broadband customer losses. Across the period, infrastructure and consumer offers remained recurring sources of visibility, increasingly accompanied by regulatory, service and financial scrutiny.

Key messages:

- Virgin Media O2 accounted for 25.3% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #2-#3 among 8.
- Coverage concentrated on Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre) and Products, devices & service launches.
- Visibility peaked in July 2026 at 28.4%, compared with 20.1% in August 2026.
- February 2026: O2 launched its Starlink-powered smartphone satellite service, reported by Reuters.

Leading themes:

- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 20.1% of Virgin Media O2's coverage (theme index 1.12, net tone +65)
- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 17.7% of Virgin Media O2's coverage (theme index 0.96, net tone +5)
- Products, devices & service launches: 16.4% of Virgin Media O2's coverage (theme index 1.04, net tone +65)

Notable positive coverage:

- 9 January 2026, express.co.uk: [Virgin Media is dishing out ultimate broadband upgrades at 'lowest ever' prices](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/2155590/virgin-media-broadband-deal). Virgin Media is promoting discounted broadband packages from 264Mbps to 1Gbps, alongside annual £4 April price rises. The article compares offers from BT, Vodafone and Community Fibre.
- 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.

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.
- 8 July 2026, express.co.uk: [Virgin Media fined record £28m for stopping millions of customers from switching](https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/2226623/virgin-media-fined-record-28m). Ofcom fined Virgin Media £28 million for widespread practices that made it difficult for customers to cancel or switch services between 2022 and 2024. The company has overhauled its customer-service processes and must provide applicable redress.
- 22 September 2026, ispreview.co.uk: [Does O2 (or MVNO) support 5G Home Broadband? | Page 2](https://www.ispreview.co.uk/talk/threads/does-o2-or-mvno-support-5g-home-broadband.45013/post-472669). Forum users discuss O2 network carrier aggregation, alleged SIM throttling and the lack of a promoted 5G fixed-wireless home-broadband service. VodafoneThree's shared-host network configuration is also discussed.

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

### VodafoneThree

**Merger integration gives way to a broader product push**

VodafoneThree ranked 3rd of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (21.1%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 1,376 mentions and a net tone of +33.

VodafoneThree recorded 1,376 mentions and ranked third across January to September by both average monthly share and pooled share. Its 21.1% average monthly share was slightly below its 21.5% pooled share of tracked-company mentions. The operator remained third from January through July, before moving to second in August and retaining that position in September. Early coverage combined merger integration and network commitments with pricing changes, service reliability and the separate market positions of Vodafone and Three. February reporting included the connection of more than 8,000 sites to the combined core network and the planned closure of the Green Park office. March’s narrower agenda was led by tariff increases and planned direct-to-device satellite trials, before April expanded into scam protection, enterprise network slicing and retail integration. May paired Vodafone’s proposed £4.3bn purchase of CK Hutchison’s stake with a new 5G home-broadband service and the completion of network integration across more than 10,000 sites. June concentrated more heavily on infrastructure, including the expanded CityFibre partnership and a Wimbledon demonstration of network slicing. July produced the period’s highest volume as stories covered the completed VodafoneThree buyout, group restructuring, job reductions and the settlement with former franchisees. By September, the profile was led by customer propositions, notably Vodafone TV, SuperMobile and new broadband products, while VodafoneThree held second place despite a modest reduction in share from August.

Key messages:

- VodafoneThree accounted for 21.5% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #2-#3 among 8.
- Coverage concentrated on Products, devices & service launches and Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre).
- Visibility peaked in August 2026 at 24.6%, compared with 16.5% in March 2026.
- January 2026: Ofcom highlighted early merger benefits and the £11bn investment commitment in Mobile News.

Leading themes:

- Products, devices & service launches: 21.1% of VodafoneThree's coverage (theme index 1.45, net tone +73)
- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 17.8% of VodafoneThree's coverage (theme index 0.95, net tone +51)
- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 14.0% of VodafoneThree's coverage (theme index 0.72, net tone −7)

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.
- 25 September 2026, sundayguardianlive.com: [Three Network Down Today: Is 3 (Three) Down? Users Report Signal, Calls, Data and Internet Issues Across the UK | Three Outage Downdetector Status](https://sundayguardianlive.com/tech-news/three-network-down-today-is-3-three-down-users-report-signal-calls-data-and-internet-issues-across-the-uk-three-outage-downdetector-status-today-292401/). Customers across the UK reported apparent Three network problems affecting signal, calls, texts and mobile data. The reported outage had not been formally confirmed by Three and its cause and duration remained unclear.

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

### Sky

**Sky’s agenda shifted from price rises to network upgrades**

Sky ranked 4th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (10.7%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 673 mentions and a net tone of +16.

Across January to September, Sky ranked fourth in every measured month, with 673 mentions and a 10.5% pooled share of tracked-company mentions; its equal-weighted monthly share was 10.7%, ranking fourth. It opened with its highest share of the period, 16.6% in January, when reporting centred on Sky Mobile’s first mid-contract price increase in more than seven years and related cancellation rights. Volume increased slightly in February, but March brought an 8.1-point share decline to 8.4% as coverage remained concentrated on the forthcoming £3 broadband increase and changes to service guarantees. April’s recovery to 11.3% coincided with a broader agenda that included the launch of Sky Smart Home, broadband offers and scrutiny of its revised price-rise wording. In May, the proposed £1.6 billion acquisition of ITV’s Media & Entertainment division introduced a substantial corporate strand alongside mobile-device offers and expanded roaming. June combined broadband pricing and roaming stories with Comcast’s plan to place Sky within a new NBCUniversal media business. In July, Sky’s volume rose by 34 mentions but its share fell to 7.5% amid a much larger cohort total; stories included free roaming in 120 destinations for long-standing VIP customers and discounted high-speed broadband. August’s share recovered to 9.7% as the agenda extended to Your Multiview, limited 5G Standalone support, payment problems and customer-service cases. September closed at the period low of 6.6%, retaining fourth place, despite the launch of a 1.6Gbps full-fibre tier and wider reporting on 5G+ connectivity, while refunds for customers not properly notified of April price rises returned pricing to the agenda. Overall, Sky’s profile broadened from sustained consumer-price reporting towards products, connectivity and corporate strategy, but these later developments did not materially alter its fourth-place competitive position.

Key messages:

- Sky accounted for 10.5% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #4 among 8.
- Coverage concentrated on Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises and Products, devices & service launches.
- Visibility peaked in January 2026 at 16.6%, compared with 6.6% in September 2026.
- January 2026: Sky Mobile confirmed its first mid-contract price increase in more than seven years, reported by the Express.

Leading themes:

- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 43.7% of Sky's coverage (theme index 2.87, net tone +2)
- Products, devices & service launches: 27.8% of Sky's coverage (theme index 1.9, net tone +58)
- Customer service, outages & reliability: 6.8% of Sky's coverage (theme index 0.86, net tone −13)

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:

- 28 September 2026, mirror.co.uk: [Sky customers told they're getting refunds after 'error'](https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/sky-customers-sent-letters-saying-37710521). Sky is refunding affected customers after failing to provide advance notice of April 2026 price increases. Customers can cancel without early-termination charges within 31 days of notification if unhappy with the change.
- 12 September 2026, mirror.co.uk: [Martin Lewis' haggling method got me faster broadband for less](https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/tried-martin-lewis-haggling-method-37644788). A Sky broadband customer says a weeks-long outage allowed them to leave their contract without an early termination fee after Sky offered only a small retention discount. The customer switched to EE full-fibre broadband at the same monthly price, reporting doubled download speeds.
- 14 August 2026, mirror.co.uk: [Forget Sky as Google slashes up to £850 off Pixel 11 Pro](https://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/google-pixel-11-pro-preorder-37548705). The article compares Google’s Pixel 11 Pro trade-in offer with Sky Mobile’s handset-contract pricing, arguing that buying direct could be cheaper. It notes Sky customers would also require a separate mobile data plan.

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

### CityFibre

**Milestones, partnerships and consolidation defined CityFibre’s uneven visibility**

CityFibre ranked 5th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (4.3%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 272 mentions and a net tone of +30.

CityFibre accounted for 4.3% of tracked-company mentions from January to September and had a 4.3% average monthly share, placing fifth by both measures. Its monthly position ranged from fifth to seventh, with stronger visibility in January, June and July but pronounced falls in February and August. January combined record 2025 revenue and connection growth with nationwide business broadband availability, prospective acquisitions and reported plans to cut about 450 jobs. Share then fell from 5.3% to 2.6% in February as coverage centred on CityFibre’s challenge to the proposed Nexfibre-Netomnia transaction and its £50,000 Suffolk digital-inclusion award. March’s recovery to 5.3% came alongside the launch of an 8.5Gbps wholesale service, expanded partner products and local Project Gigabit work. May reporting examined the re-scoping of Project Gigabit contracts and CityFibre’s continuing target of 450,000 rural or hard-to-reach premises by 2030. June produced the period’s highest share, 6.6%, as CityFibre passed one million connections, extended its VodafoneThree partnership into mobile backhaul and launched Future Ready Learners. July generated the highest volume, 66 mentions, with the Entanet sale, further proposed redundancies and reports of a £900 million equity raise for acquisitions broadening the agenda beyond network deployment. Visibility fell to 2.9% and seventh place in August before recovering to 4.0% and sixth in September, when rural activations and the reduced Norfolk build sat alongside contextual references to Vodafone’s planned multi-gigabit services over CityFibre’s network.

Key messages:

- CityFibre accounted for 4.3% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #5-#7 among 8.
- Coverage concentrated on Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre) and Mergers, M&A & consolidation.
- Visibility peaked in June 2026 at 6.6%, compared with 2.6% in February 2026.
- January 2026: CityFibre reported record 2025 revenue of £170 million and 848,000 connections — thinkbroadband.com.

Leading themes:

- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 30.1% of CityFibre's coverage (theme index 1.68, net tone +56)
- Mergers, M&A & consolidation: 21.3% of CityFibre's coverage (theme index 3.1, net tone −7)
- Financial results & corporate strategy: 12.5% of CityFibre's coverage (theme index 1.3, net tone +12)

Notable positive coverage:

- 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.
- 20 January 2026, telecompaper.com: [CityFibre expands business broadband availability nationwide](https://www.telecompaper.com/news/cityfibre-expands-business-broadband-availability-nationwide--1559750). CityFibre has launched wholesale business broadband availability across its 4.5 million-premise FTTP footprint. Its reseller partners can offer symmetrical speeds up to 2.5Gbps to small businesses, home workers and SOHO customers.

Notable negative coverage:

- 3 September 2026, ispreview.co.uk: [Norfolk County Council Issues Update After CityFibre Scale-Back Fibre Broadband Build](https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/09/norfolk-county-council-issues-update-after-cityfibre-scale-back-fibre-broadband-build.html). CityFibre has reduced its Norfolk Project Gigabit build from roughly 62,200 to around 33,000 hard-to-reach premises. Remaining eligible areas are expected to move into a new Type C procurement, for which Openreach is expected to be the principal bidder.
- 17 July 2026, datacenterdynamics.com: [UK altnet CityFibre could axe 200 jobs - report](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/uk-altnet-cityfibre-could-axe-200-jobs-report/). CityFibre has proposed organisational changes that could put up to 200 jobs at risk as it seeks to optimise costs amid a slow, saturated altnet market. The company says it is continuing network and customer growth.
- 15 July 2026, ispreview.co.uk: [Broadband Altnet CityFibre Notifies 200 UK Staff of Possible Future Redundancy](https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/07/broadband-altnet-cityfibre-notifies-200-uk-staff-of-possible-future-redundancy.html). CityFibre has proposed organisational changes that could affect 200 roles amid difficult market conditions and slower consolidation. It is pursuing cost optimisation while growing its full-fibre customer base.

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

### TalkTalk

**TalkTalk sales and restructuring dominate a volatile media profile**

TalkTalk ranked 6th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (4.0%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 266 mentions and a net tone of −47.

TalkTalk recorded 266 mentions from January to September, representing 4.2% of tracked-company mentions and sixth place on both pooled and average monthly share. Its position fluctuated between fifth and seventh, with the strongest shares concentrated in August and September. Early coverage centred on reported talks to sell the consumer and PXC wholesale businesses, while February broadened the agenda through full-fibre promotions and TalkTalk Business’s separation from the group. March’s price-freeze offer contrasted with a reduced 3.1% share, before April brought extensive reporting on Ovo Energy’s legal claim over the 2022 customer transfer. Customer complaints and comparisons with smaller providers shaped May’s narrower profile. June and July combined further bidding reports for the consumer and wholesale divisions with TalkTalk research, CityFibre package listings and the launch of U Smart Wi-Fi. August’s 6.4% share accompanied several substantive corporate developments, including customer transfers to Rise Fibre and Fleur Telecom and the proposed TalkTalk Business–ARO merger. September produced the period’s highest share, 6.5%, as reporting focused on advanced division-sale discussions, debt and the risk of administration. Across the window, coverage moved from pricing and consumer propositions towards disposals, restructuring and financial pressure, with service reliability and complaints recurring alongside that corporate story.

Key messages:

- TalkTalk accounted for 4.2% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #5-#7 among 8.
- Coverage concentrated on Mergers, M&A & consolidation and Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises.
- Visibility peaked in September 2026 at 6.5%, compared with 2.3% in May 2026.
- January 2026: Total Telecom reported that TalkTalk was seeking buyers for its consumer and PXC wholesale businesses.

Leading themes:

- Mergers, M&A & consolidation: 29.7% of TalkTalk's coverage (theme index 4.55, net tone −48)
- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 17.7% of TalkTalk's coverage (theme index 0.97, net tone −19)
- Financial results & corporate strategy: 13.5% of TalkTalk's coverage (theme index 1.41, net tone −78)

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.
- 5 February 2026, belfastlive.co.uk: [TalkTalk's cheaper broadband has one key selling point Sky and BT can't match](https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/talktalk-broadband-deal-sky-bt-33366918). TalkTalk has reduced the price of its Full Fibre 150 broadband package to £24 per month, positioning it below comparable BT and Sky offers with a shorter 18-month contract. The article also notes planned annual price increases across the providers.

Notable negative coverage:

- 25 September 2026, independent.co.uk: [TalkTalk in 'final stages' of deals to sell divisions amid administration threat](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/talktalk-britain-government-mod-london-b3056269.html). TalkTalk says it is in the final stages of sales processes for its consumer and wholesale businesses, amid concerns it could enter administration. Potential transactions involve Opus Broadband for the consumer arm and Octopus Investments for PXC.
- 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.
- 6 August 2026, getsurrey.co.uk: [120,000 Talktalk customers 'sold' to rival company and must move](https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/120000-talktalk-customers-sold-rival-34416542). TalkTalk is transferring around 120,000 broadband customers to Rise Fibre while retaining about 1.5 million customers. The move follows reported customer-base declines and financial struggles.

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

### Community Fibre

**Price-led coverage broadened into mobile and ultra-fast fibre**

Community Fibre ranked 7th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (2.2%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 142 mentions and a net tone of +51.

Community Fibre recorded 142 mentions from January to September, representing 2.2% of tracked-company mentions on both pooled and average-monthly measures. It ranked seventh by both measures, with monthly positions ranging from sixth to eighth. January’s 3.8% share accompanied reporting on 48% revenue growth to £113 million, increased EBITDA and a 32% network take-up rate. Coverage also examined its decision not to acquire G.Network assets because of structural problems and expected repair costs. February’s share fell to 0.4%, when the available articles mentioned Community Fibre only within wider sector reporting rather than covering a development at the operator. Price and speed propositions then returned to the foreground, including March’s discounted 2.5Gbps plan and April’s doubled-speed Essentials social tariff. May expanded the story beyond fixed broadband with plans for an unlimited mobile eSIM, which launched in July on a rolling monthly basis. June reporting combined a £20-per-month gigabit offer with strong customer and revenue growth, planned network expansion and separate reports that Community Fibre’s owners were exploring a sale. July brought the highest monthly volume, alongside the eSIM launch, a three-month-free broadband offer without mid-contract rises. August’s higher share coincided with research on public preparedness for the analogue landline switch-off, while discounted plans reintroduced annual mid-contract rises. September shifted decisively towards products and network capability through the first 8.5Gbps residential connection, further doubled-speed packages and growth at Community Fibre-owned Box Broadband.

Key messages:

- Community Fibre accounted for 2.2% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #6-#8 among 8.
- Coverage concentrated on Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises and Mergers, M&A & consolidation.
- Visibility peaked in January 2026 at 3.8%, compared with 0.4% in February 2026.
- January 2026: Community Fibre reported 48% revenue growth, higher EBITDA and increased network take-up — Telecoms.com.

Leading themes:

- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 37.3% of Community Fibre's coverage (theme index 2.1, net tone +74)
- Mergers, M&A & consolidation: 15.5% of Community Fibre's coverage (theme index 2.12, net tone −5)
- Products, devices & service launches: 12.0% of Community Fibre's coverage (theme index 0.74, net tone +76)

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

### Hyperoptic

**From price rises to a two-million-premises pivot**

Hyperoptic ranked 8th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (1.4%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 83 mentions and a net tone of +33.

Hyperoptic recorded 83 mentions from January to September, representing 1.3% of tracked-company mentions across the period and an average monthly share of 1.4%. It ranked eighth on both measures, briefly rising to seventh in February and sixth in March before returning to eighth for the remainder of the window. January combined reporting on a £4 monthly bill increase with appointments intended to align customer-experience strategy and service delivery. February’s lower volume included Hyperoptic research estimating that 51% of UK households could be overpaying for broadband. Share reached 3.6% in March, when the available articles mentioned Hyperoptic within wider reporting on industry price rises, switching and competing full-fibre networks rather than reporting a development at the company. April brought a broader company-specific agenda, including the launch of customer rewards, an outage in southeast London and Kent, and direct comparisons with Virgin Media, Sky, BT and Community Fibre. May fell to three mentions and 0.6%, with the available articles placing Hyperoptic in wider analysis of altnet debt, refinancing and consolidation. June combined a report that Hyperoptic’s backers were exploring a sale with the operator’s data on World Cup traffic peaks. July produced the highest volume, at 19 mentions, alongside reporting that the network had reached two million premises, revenue had grown by 22% in 2025 and strategy was shifting towards customer take-up. August added a rolling 1Gbps package, home-moving research, promotional offers and heatwave router guidance, before September declined to two mentions and 0.2%, with the only company-specific article detailing a customer’s extended outage and support complaint.

Key messages:

- Hyperoptic accounted for 1.3% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #6-#8 among 8.
- Coverage concentrated on Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises and Mergers, M&A & consolidation.
- Visibility peaked in March 2026 at 3.6%, compared with 0.2% in September 2026.
- January 2026: The Mirror reported Hyperoptic’s planned £4 monthly bill increase after its earlier opposition to mid-contract rises.

Leading themes:

- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 32.5% of Hyperoptic's coverage (theme index 1.81, net tone +26)
- Competition & market dynamics: 13.3% of Hyperoptic's coverage (theme index 2.16, net tone +55)
- Mergers, M&A & consolidation: 12.0% of Hyperoptic's coverage (theme index 1.62, net tone −10)

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 appointed senior leaders for customer experience and customer service operations as it scales. The provider is investing in digital support, generative AI, and replacement customer-service systems.
- 15 April 2026, telecompaper.com: [Hyperoptic launches new rewards scheme for customers](https://www.telecompaper.com/news/hyperoptic-launches-new-rewards-scheme-for-customers--1568232). Hyperoptic has launched a Rewards feature in its customer account platform. The scheme provides customers with no-cost access to partner discounts and offers.

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.
- 3 September 2026, ispreview.co.uk: [GTom's Review for Hyperoptic](https://www.ispreview.co.uk/review/reviews/8318/). A Hyperoptic customer review reports an internet outage lasting seven days, with a further six-day wait for an engineer. The reviewer alleges that support failed to recognise a wider neighbourhood fault or escalate the issue promptly.
- 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.

- [Hyperoptic deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-ytd?entity=hyperoptic&view=deep-dive)
- [Hyperoptic PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-ytd/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 – H1 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1.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", 2026 year to date (1 January 2026–30 September 2026), published 4 October 2026. https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-ytd