Combining your broadband, TV and broadband with one provider can open you up to the very best broadband deals. Whilst major players such as Sky and Virgin media still reign supreme for the choice of channels. The rise in popularity of streaming services such as NetFlix, Britbox, Disney+ etc, have opened a whole array of options within the UK market. Choosing the best broadband and TV deal can always be difficult.
If you've been shopping around for a broadband, TV and phone package recently, you may have noticed something. A lot of providers no longer include a home phone as standard. It reflects something bigger that's happening across the whole of the UK right now. The way home phones work is changing completely, and by January 2027 the old phone network as we've known it for decades will be switched off for good.
That doesn't mean you can't get a home phone as part of your broadband package. You still can. But it's worth understanding what's on offer and what's actually changed before you sign up to anything.
What's Happening to Home Phone Lines?
Openreach, the company that owns and maintains most of the UK's phone and broadband infrastructure is switching it off completely by January 2027. All UK landlines will move to a digital service instead. Rather than running over copper wires, calls will travel over your broadband connection. This technology is called Digital Voice, though you might also hear it referred to as VoIP or IP voice. Different providers brand it differently, so Sky calls it Sky Voice, BT calls it BT Digital Voice, and TalkTalk uses the same Digital Voice term.
The good news is that for most people, the practical difference is very small. Instead of plugging your phone into the wall socket, you plug it into the back of your broadband router. Your existing phone number moves across with you. Call quality is at least as good as a traditional landline, and in many cases better.
Most providers will contact you ahead of the change and walk you through what you need to do. The majority of customers won't need to do anything at all until they hear from their provider.
A note if you rely on your landline
If you or someone in your household depends on a home phone for a medical alarm, a telecare device (such as a fall detector or personal alarm), or a monitored burglar alarm, it's worth contacting your broadband provider sooner rather than later. These devices sometimes need a small upgrade to work on a digital phone line, and your provider will be able to advise you on what support is available.
Which Providers Still Include a Home Phone?
Not every broadband provider bundles a phone service, but the main ones do. Here's a quick rundown.
BT includes Digital Voice as standard with most of its home broadband packages. Your calls go through your BT Smart Hub router and your existing number is kept. BT has already moved millions of customers across to Digital Voice and the process is well established.
Sky offers home phone through its Sky Talk add-on. On Sky's full fibre packages, this is now delivered digitally rather than over copper. You can add Sky Talk to any Sky broadband plan and choose a call package that suits how much you use the phone.
Virgin Media uses its own cable network rather than Openreach, so the phone question works slightly differently. Virgin does offer home phone as part of its bundles, but it's not always automatically included. It's worth checking what's in the package when you compare.
EE includes a home phone option on many of its broadband packages, delivered digitally over your broadband line.
For providers like Vodafone, NOW and many of the newer full fibre providers, phone is either not included at all or is an optional add-on. If a home phone is important to you, make sure you check before you sign up.
TV Packages: What Are Your Options?
TV is the other big piece of the puzzle, and the market has changed a lot here too. There are really two types of TV deal available now, and they suit different types of household.
Pay TV from Sky and Virgin Media
If you want a full TV package with access to channels like Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, Sky Atlantic or a wide range of entertainment channels, Sky and Virgin Media are the two main options.
Sky TV is delivered via a satellite dish on your home and a Sky Q box (or the newer Sky Glass TV). You get access to a large range of channels and the option to add sports, cinema and entertainment bolt-ons as your budget allows. Sky's biggest strength is the sheer number of channels and the quality of its sports coverage.
Virgin Media delivers TV through its own cable network and offers a wide selection of channels through its TV 360 box. Like Sky, you can add sports and entertainment packages. Virgin's advantage is that its broadband speeds are typically very fast, so you get strong TV and internet performance together in one package.
Both providers offer bundled deals where broadband, TV and phone all come together, and these bundles are often better value than taking each service separately.
Streaming-First TV
A growing number of people now prefer to build their own TV setup using streaming services rather than paying for a traditional TV package. Netflix, Disney Plus, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, ITVX, BBC iPlayer, Channel 4 and Britbox all work through an internet connection on a smart TV, laptop, tablet or phone. If the channels you care about are mostly available through these apps, you may find it cheaper to take a broadband-only deal and subscribe to the streaming services you want separately.
Some providers have started bridging the gap between the two. Vodafone, for example, has offered Apple TV as part of its broadband packages. EE bundles Apple TV and various other streaming subscriptions with some plans. These aren't traditional TV packages, but they give you a curated streaming experience alongside your broadband.
Do You Actually Need All Three?
It's a fair question. Here's a simple way to think about it.
If you watch a lot of live sport, enjoy Sky's original programming, or want access to a wide range of channels in one place, a full bundle from Sky or Virgin Media is likely to be good value. You'll typically save money compared to taking broadband and TV separately, and having everything on one bill is convenient.
If your TV watching is mostly through Netflix, Disney Plus and catch-up apps, a broadband-only deal will almost certainly cost you less. Most modern broadband plans are available without a phone line now, which means you're not paying for something you don't use.
If you do want a home phone, the key is to check whether it's included in the package or whether it's an add-on. With most providers moving to digital phone lines, you'll want to confirm how it works and whether your existing handset is compatible. In most cases it will be, but it's worth a quick check.
Finding the Best Deal For You
The best broadband, TV and phone deal will always depend on what you actually watch, how much you use your phone, and what speeds you need from your broadband. Prices and packages change regularly, so the best thing to do is use our comparison tool to see what's available at your address right now.
A few things worth looking out for when comparing:
Contract length. Most deals run for 18 or 24 months. Make sure you're happy committing for that period, and check what the price goes up to after any introductory offer ends.
Setup costs. Some providers charge an activation fee or require a new router to be sent out. These costs vary and can make a cheaper monthly price less attractive than it first appears.
What's actually included. With phone deals in particular, check whether you're getting unlimited calls, calls to UK landlines only, or a pay-as-you-go arrangement. Evening and weekend call packages are cheaper but won't suit everyone.
Use our comparison tool above to find the best deals available at your address today.