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TalkTalk offers a range of internet, TV and mobile services for UK home and business users. They are one of the largest British telecoms providers, currently serving roughly four million customers.

Get more information below including TalkTalk broadband deals, speed test and company ownership.

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TalkTalk Broadband & TV Deals

Let’s take a look at the TalkTalk broadband deals as well as TV, Phone and Business options that are currently on offer. Whether you’re looking for mobile, TV or broadband deals, you can decide which one best fits your needs at a glance below.

TalkTalk Broadband Deals

Like many providers, TalkTalk divides its broadband deals into several packages operating at different speeds. TalkTalk broadband comes in at four different speed levels with varying perks - if you’re used to doing your homework on broadband packages, you’ll be quite familiar with them:

Fast Broadband Fibre 35 Fibre 65 Fibre 150
11 Mbps avg. downloads & avg. upload not stated 38 Mbps avg. downloads & 9Mbps avg. uploads 67 Mbps avg. downloads & 18Mbps avg. upload 145 Mbps avg. downloads & 25Mbps avg upload
18 month default contract length 18 month default contract length 18 month default contract length 18 month default contract length
Unlimited usage Unlimited usage Unlimited usage Unlimited usage
Includes line rental Includes line rental Includes line rental Includes line rental
Call & HomeSafe web and phone filters included No set-up fee & SuperSafe online security included No set-up fee & SuperSafe online security included No set-up fee & SuperSafe online security included
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All TalkTalk broadband deals come with line rental included as well as not having set up fees. While 18 months is the default TalkTalk contract length - you can also choose shorter or longer internet contracts from 12 to 24 months, though prices will vary when compared to the base 18-month contract. See full details on pricing in our TalkTalk pricing section.

Other benefits to signing up to TalkTalk broadband include:

  • Unlimited downloads and uploads
  • HomeSafe web filter which provides parental controls without the need of additional software on connected devices.
  • SuperSafe online security (fibre customers only)
  • 30-day great connection guarantee (fibre customers only) enabling you to cancel without an additional cancellation fee, though you’ll still be charged for the period the service was used as well as delivery charges.

While most benefits are available to all TalkTalk customers some are exclusive to Fibre 35, 65 and 150 customers. Most are pretty standard perks that you will find elsewhere, and your decision should really swing on how tempted you are by the price of the contract you want and the extras you’ll need to add.

How good is TalkTalk Super Safe?SuperSafe is only included in TalkTalk fibre deals, and gives antivirus protection against malware and protects you against attacks when browsing and banking online. It’s free on one device, but you have an option to add up to 10 devices for a fee. HomeSafe, on the other hand, comes as standard with all TalkTalk broadband deals, and filters incoming traffic to block inappropriate content and sites that could contain malware. It’s free and there’s nothing to download to get it set up.

Bear in mind that connection speeds will vary - this will depend on where you live in the UK. For full details on TalkTalk’s broadband deal, see our TalkTalk broadband page.

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Work From Home Broadband

TalkTalk also currently offers a new Homeworker Package for customers who are working from home and depend on a reliable connection for their work. In order to provide what they call business-grade broadband, TalkTalk installs a second line for the residential customer in order to dedicate the full bandwidth of the connection to work from home and avoiding any degraded performance that can be associated with multiple devices using a single connection. Let’s take a closer look at the details of this TalkTalk package.

Homeworker package
76 Mbps avg. downloads & Avg. upload speed not stated
24 month default contract length for a second broadband connection
Unlimited usage
Includes line rental
7 days a week, UK based support & No set-up fee

Ultra Fibre Optic (UFO) broadband

If you live in the York area, you may be lucky enough to fall into TalkTalk’s UFO broadband catchment. This is a network of fibre optic cables that TalkTalk has developed independently which can offer customers almost 1 Gbps download speeds - among the fastest on the market in the UK. To see if UFO broadband is available to you, check using the postcode checker on the TalkTalk website. Here’s a summary of the contract::

  1. Avg. download speeds of more than 900 Mbps
  2. Line rental included
  3. Unlimited downloads and uploads
  4. TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub included
  5. Unlimited UK Calls add-on free for 18 months

For details on pricing, scroll down to our pricing section and find out just how lucky TalkTalk’s York-based customers are. TalkTalk has long been seeking to extend its UltraFibreOptic network, so it’s also worth keeping an eye on whether it is available to you if you live somewhere else.

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TalkTalk TV Deals

flat screen tv

TalkTalk has less of a reputation as a TV provider, but after a number of unsuccessful attempts to launch a service to compete with other major providers, it launched a partnership with YouView in 2012 that has been successful since. Here’s a little bit about what you can get from a TalkTalk TV deal:

  • More than 80 Freeview channels, with 15 in HD.
  • The ability to pause and rewind live TV.
  • Record TV (only if you have the TalkTalk TV Plus box).
  • The option to add and remove extra channels a month at a time.
  • Catch up TV with on-demand players, including the BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and All4.
  • The ability to rent the latest film releases.

This is similar to the functions available with other providers that have partnered with YouView (such as Plusnet), so in terms of TV offer there’s little other than price to say you should pick TalkTalk over Sky or Virgin TV. TalkTalk does, however, offer ‘Boosts’ that let you expand your range of channels for an extra cost. These include:

  • Entertainment Boost (33 channels including Sky One, Comedy Central and Fox)
  • Kids Boost (10 channels including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network)
  • Sports Boosts
  • Sky Cinema Boost

On the whole, we think that for someone whose TV needs are basic then TalkTalk is a perfectly viable option, especially if you can find a good deal paired with your broadband. If you want the best selection, however, you’re better off looking elsewhere. For full details on TalkTalk’s TV offer, including all its features and the channels available with the basic packages and every Boost, see our TalkTalk TV page.

TalkTalk Sim Only Mobile

TalkTalk Sim Only Mobile offers were phased out in 2018, which means that TalkTalk UK no longer has any offers for mobile customers. At the time, remaining TalkTalk Mobile customers were given the option of switching to a different provider or moving over to an exclusive deal with O2. If they chose the second option, those customers could benefit from discounts of up to 25%.

Is Talk Mobile the same as TalkTalk?Talkmobile is a current Sim only mobile provider that is not related to TalkTalk in any way. In fact, the Talkmobile brand was created by Carphone Warehouse and later acquired by Vodafone.

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TalkTalk Business Deals

TalkTalk Business has a more extensive range of speeds than those for residential customers. On the budget end, you have similar speeds than those for home broadband users. However, there is also a high end option with connection speeds topping out at 1Gbps, with guaranteed uptime and support. Of course, those enterprise features do come with a price premium when compared to standard offers.

TalkTalk Landline Phone Deals

All of TalkTalk’s broadband deals coming with line rental means that anyone can add calls packages to their deal should they want to. TalkTalk calls its calls packages ‘boosts’, and there’s only two of them:

Unlimited UK Calling Boost International Max Calling Boost
 Unlimited calls to UK landline numbers starting with 01, 02 and 03  1,000 inclusive anytime minutes to over 50 international destinations
 Unlimited calls to standard UK mobiles (excludes 070 and 076 numbers)  Calls apply to standard landlines and mobiles
 Excludes Channel Islands, premium mobile services and other numbers  Excludes premium satellite calls and non-geographic calls

These Boosts have a minimum duration of one month, and you’ll be charged for them in advance. TalkTalk also says that it requires 48 hours’ notice to cancel TalkTalk, so be sure you let them know two days before your monthly charge or you’ll be charged for a month of calls you don’t want! If you don’t feel you need fully unlimited calls or international calls, you can just add simple Mobile Minutes Boost to your deal for *unlimited calls to standard UK mobiles.

It’s always important to bear in mind that, as with most calls packages, calls are only inclusive up to 60 minutes. When you’re nearing an hour into your chat, hang up the phone and redial to avoid being charged for every minute you go over. Maybe also let the person on the other end know beforehand - you don’t want to seem rude!

*In reality, what TalkTalk mean by “unlimited” is 2,000 minutes - this is what your usage will be capped at. Unfortunately, nor does it include calls to the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

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TalkTalk Broadband & TV Package Pricing

TalkTalk offers several package options from Broadband with Landline to High speed fibre broadband with TV and streaming options. Let's take a look at the pricing of all these options:

TalkTalk Broadband Prices

TalkTalk claims to be the cheapest fixed-price broadband provider in the UK. Be careful in interpreting this, because while it may be true, if you sign up to calls or TV packages alongside your broadband, these may not be fixed - so you still might see your bill go up. But putting this aside, just how cheap are TalkTalk’s broadband deals? Let’s take a look:

TalkTalk Fast Broadband Prices

If you’ve only got one or two devices online at the same time and all you’re doing is browsing, shopping or streaming a bit of music, TalkTalk’s ‘Fast’ Broadband package should be enough for you though it’s always best to check your internet speed to get an accurate figure for your home):

Fast Broadband (11 Mbps)
12-month contract 18-month contract 24-month contract
£30 per month £24.50 per month £30 per month
Includes line rental Includes line rental Includes line rental

As we’ve mentioned, prices are fixed for the duration of your contract, but if you add any calls package or TV add-on to your deal, don’t expect the same to apply. With over a tenner’s difference between the 24-month deal and the others, we don’t see why you’d think twice about grabbing this one while it lasts and locking your broadband bill at under twenty quid for the foreseeable future.

Beware the post-contract hike!All of these deals, TalkTalk say, currently revert to £30 a month once the contract is up. This might not be too off-putting to those choosing the 12 or 18-month deals, but remember that this price is subject to change, so keep an eye on it and stay on the ball when you’re nearing the end of your deal.

TalkTalk Fibre 35 Prices

If your internet usage is slightly more demanding - if you stream videos a lot, for example, or there are more than a few devices online at one time - you might be better off with a fibre deal. Here’s what this would cost you:

Fibre 35 (38 Mbps)
12-month contract 18-month contract 24-month contract
£29.95 per month £22 per month £29.95 per month
Includes line rental Includes line rental Includes line rental
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Here, TalkTalk has opted to incentivise the 18-month contract, but the same principle applies - in fact, you’re even better off financially getting this deal than its longer and shorter equivalents. Again, however, take note that all prices revert to £29.95 a month at the end of your deal, and this is subject to change.

30-day Great Connection GuaranteeIf you take out Fibre 35 or any of TalkTalk’s other fibre broadband deals, you’re offered a 30-day period during which you can leave if you don’t think your connection speed is quick or reliable enough. You just give them a call at 345 172 0088 to request cancellation and TalkTalk will send you a pre-paid bag to send back your equipment - once you’ve sent it back, you’ll receive a refund of any money owed.

TalkTalk Fibre 65 Prices

If you want to be absolutely sure your internet keeps ticking at a high speed while live streaming, gaming or with several devices using it at once, you might want to consider upgrading to TalkTalk’s superfast offer:

Superfast Fibre (67 Mbps)
12-month contract 18-month contract 24-month contract
£29.95 per month £24 per month £25.95 per month
Includes line rental Includes line rental Includes line rental

TalkTalk has recalibrated the pricing of its Fibre broadband once more. Instead of incentivising the longer contracts, they have chosen to make the 18 month contract the most attractively priced. Be aware once again that all of these deals, once your contract ends, revert to £29.95 a month after.

 

TalkTalk Fibre 150 Prices

This is the highest speed tier offered on the TalkTalk homepage for its regular range of fibre broadband deals. This Fibre Broadband deal is only available with an 18-month contract option:

Fibre 150 (145 Mbps)
- 18-month contract -
- £28 per month -
- Line rental not needed -

Talk Talk is currently offering this premium fibre broadband option with a half price offer for the first six months. After, the six month elapse, the full £28 per month is charged. It's worth noting this is a time-limited offer and is dependent on successful installation from a BT Openreach engineer.

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TalkTalk UltraFibreOptic Prices

If your home is in an area that is eligible for Openreach, then you might be to get TalkTalk’s Ultra Fibre Optic (UFO) network and enjoy speeds of around 900 Mbps. This will suit heavy internet users or those who rely on the highest speeds for high bandwidth applications - you’re pretty much guaranteed it won’t cut out or hold you back with a ‘buffering’ message.

Ultra Fibre Optic (900 Mbps)
- 18-month contract -
- £27.50 per month -
- No setup fee -
- Line rental not needed Includes line rental

Unfortunately, no 12 or 24-month contracts are available on UltraFibreOptic, but you can get yourself a fantastic price on an 18-month one. You also have the option of adding 70 TV channels for the duration of the 18-month contract with the UltraFibreOptic + TV package which includes a TV Box and line rental too all for £29.50 a month instead of the data only £27.50 per month.

TalkTalk TV + Broadband packages

As only TalkTalk broadband customers are eligible for TalkTalk’s TV deals, new customers are best off signing up to a package deal, the best of which will be subject to change. At the time of writing, TalkTalk are promoting a Fibre 35 with TalkTalk TV package with the following features:

  • £22 per month
  • 38 Mbps average download speeds
  • Includes line rental
  • Pause and rewind live TV
  • 80+ channels (15 in HD)
  • Rent new movies for as little as £4

There is a also a TV and Fast Broadband package with a slower internet connection and the same TV features. However, the pricing does not reflect the lesser internet speed and this option is actually more expensive than the Fibre with TalkTalk TV package

If you’re already a happy TalkTalk customer and want to ditch your current TV provider for TalkTalk TV, what it would cost depends on what you add. Here are your options:

TalkTalk TV boxes
TalkTalk TV box Multi-Room TV
£4 per month no monthly fee
no one-off fee £50 installation and £25 extra TV Box one-off fee
 Pause & Rewind TV  Also records TV
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In addition to the free TV channels offered in the TalkTalk TV and Broadband packages you can also activate and enjoy further third-party content from NOW TV in the form of monthly passes:

  • Entertainment Pass: £5.99 per month for the first 12 months then £9.99
  • Sky Sports Pass: £20 per month for the first 12 months then £33.99
  • Sky Cinema Pass: £6.99 per month for the first 12 months then £11.99
  • Kids Pass: £3.98 per month for the first 12 months then £3.99
  • Now TV Boost: £1.98 per month for the first 12 months then £3

Additionally, you also have access to the following paid streaming services directly from your TalkTalk TV Box.

  • Netflix: starting at £5.99 per month
  • Amazon Prime Video: You can log into your Amazon Prime account and enjoy Prime Video

It’s clear that for any household that needs a wide selection of TV content to offer, the cost here could really pile up. The base cost of Fibre 35 and TalkTalk TV is a steal at £22, but if you want the extra channels included in the Entertainment and Kids packs plus Sky Sports and Sky Cinema, you’ll see your total monthly bill more than double.

For all the details on TalkTalk TV, including all the information on add-ons, channels and pricing, see our TalkTalk TV page.

TalkTalk Landline Call Boosts

Line rental may be free with TalkTalk broadband, but, of course, unless you add on of its Call Boosts to your deal you’ll pay the standard minutely rate for each call. If you’re still very much in the habit of making regular phone calls, you’ll want to avoid this, and TalkTalk has a few packages for you to choose from - here they are:

  • Unlimited UK Calling Boost: £10 per month
  • International Max Calling Boost: £10 per month

TalkTalk also offer a range of call services, including Voicemail Plus (which adds features like a personalised greeting and remote access for £1 a month) and Call Divert (for £2 a month). For full details about TalkTalk’s additional call features and minutely rates, see TalkTalk’s website, where you’ll find all the ins and outs and catches to help you avoid unexpected charges.

TalkTalk Reviews

Let's take a look at how TalkTalk stacks up in terms of value for money and customer service quality. Our review will let you decide if TalkTalk is the TV and Broadband provider for you

Is TalkTalk good value for money?

TalkTalk prices so far look great, but how do they compare with those of their competitors? Let’s take a look. Realistically, we expect most people nowadays to need more than just standard broadband, so we’re going to focus on its fibre deals. Here’s how its 38 Mbps deal compares to the market average:

Not bad - a bit over £8 a month cheaper than the average among the six biggest providers. This is not a trifling amount to save every month on broadband, so we’d be quite tempted to take TalkTalk up on this offer. But is its faster package equally good value?

Here we’re seeing almost a £15 monthly saving against the market average here. When you factor in that TalkTalk promise 67 Mbps speeds, slightly faster speeds than the market average of 63 Mbps, this is even more tempting. If TalkTalk walks the walk as well as it talks the talk, the savings are quite something.

TalkTalk Customer Reviews

Weighing scales

So now you know more or less everything TalkTalk has to offer you, but how good is it at delivering? We’ve scoured online review sites to find out what people are saying about TalkTalk broadband so you don’t have to.

Our findings were mixed. According to customer review site Trustpilot, TalkTalk customers seem to be the most torn subscribers on the market. Of the 43,606 reviewers who have posted at the time of writing, 36% gave it the best rating of 5 stars and 38% gave it the worst rating of 1 star. We’re not used to seeing such a mix - almost half (49%) registered a positive experience with TalkTalk, and 45% came away with a negative experience. The remaining 6% were indifferent.

Recent reviews are largely negative, with the reasons as mixed as star ratings are overall. Some complain of terrible broadband service:

Do not go near them. Broadband down 4 times in 3 months, currently have had no service for 2 weeks

While others say the service is great but TalkTalk fall short in other areas:

Good and reliable service let down by their appalling customer service

TalkTalk really needs to get to the bottom of what’s going on with its customer support team in particular. Before it does we can't consider recommending it on this basis.

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Our Verdict: Pros & Cons

Here’s what seem to us to be the pros and cons of TalkTalk’s offer as a provider, and what you should be aware of when you sign up:

Pros Cons
 Broadband prices well below the market average.  Mixed customer reviews, with as many customers having terrible experiences as positive ones.
 Certain customers can access cheap 900 Mbps speeds.  Limited basic TV offer, with add-ons piling up the cost.

TalkTalk Speed Test

TalkTalk has a speed test that is available for anyone (not just TalkTalk customers) to check the speed of their internet connection, whether it’s a broadband or fibre connection. While the speed test page is not available from the TalkTalk homepage, you can get to it from the Help & Support section. We have tested it and found that it is easy to use since it only requires one click to initiate the speed check. In under two minutes, you will get a result for both your download and upload speed as well as the option to compare your speeds with TalkTalk broadband deals.

How to test easily test your internet connectionAre you curious about how fast your internet connection actually is? You can find out right now thanks to our quick speed test no matter who your internet provider is.

How do I speak to TalkTalk?

If you’re looking to contact TalkTalk, finding the right phone number can be an ordeal and that is why we have a dedicated TalkTalk contact page. However if you need a phone number right now, here is the most direct one we have found:

Blue telephone

TalkTalk Broadband sales contact
Please check with your provider if you don't know how much a call will cost. From the UK: 0800 049 1375 *Monday to Sunday: 8am-8pm

Those not wanting to do it over the phone can get through to an agent (assuming they’re not busy, as is often the case) via the live chat service on the TalkTalk website.

TalkTalk Company Information

In this section, we take a detailed look at TalkTalk's corporate background and market performance.

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Who owns TalkTalk?

TalkTalk is currently owned by the TalkTalk Group plc as of writing this in 2021. However from 2003 to 2010, the company was owned by Carphone Warehouse, until it was demerged from the UK telecoms powerhouse. Let's take a closer look at TalkTalk through the years.

In 1995, a company called Opal Telecoms was formed to provide fixed voice services to UK businesses. When it was bought by Carphone Warehouse in 2002, it was a fast-growing reseller supplying more than 20,000 corporate clients and leasing modern fibre-optic lines. A year later, TalkTalk, Opal’s consumer-focused sibling, was born.

It did not take long before TalkTalk began to make its mark on the industry, launching free unlimited calls between its customers and disrupting the industry. It entered the broadband market in 2005 when new regulation allowed alternative providers access to BT’s network through a process called local loop unbundling (LLU), expanding a year later with its purchase of AOL Broadband.

2006 was the year that really marked TalkTalk’s entrance into the UK broadband market, with the launch of free broadband. According to TalkTalk, demand “far outstripped” supply, but it established its reputation as a disruptive provider capable of competing with the industry’s big guns. A few years later, TalkTalk began sponsoring talent show The X Factor, and after its purchase of Tiscali UK and Pipex reached a quarter of the UK’s residential broadband market.

It wasn’t until 2010, however, that TalkTalk demerged from Carphone Warehouse and became a company in its own right. Once this was done, it quickly set about expanding its own telecommunications empire, beginning with the rebranding of Opal Telecom as TalkTalk Business in 2011, and with the launch of TalkTalk TV and TalkTalk Mobile the following year. In 2014, it set about developing a 1GB fibre network (called Ultra Fibre Optic or UFO broadband) in York to rival the fastest broadband speeds on the market.

TalkTalk Company Timeline

  • 1995 - Opal Telecoms formed, providing fixed-line phone services to corporate customers.
  • 2002 - Carphone Warehouse purchases Opal Telecoms.
  • 2003 - The TalkTalk brand is launched.
  • 2004 - Unlimited free calls between TalkTalk customers introduced.
  • 2005 - Opal acquires Vartec, Telequip and OneTel.
  • 2006 - TalkTalk launches free broadband and buys AOL Broadband from Time Warner (it would remain a separate brand until 2015).
  • 2009 - TalkTalk purchases Tiscali UK and Pipex.
  • 2010 - TalkTalk demerges from Carphone Warehouse. It also joins Project Canvas with major TV providers to develop a new TV platform merging terrestrial TV and online content.
  • 2011 - HomeSafe is introduced, making TalkTalk the first UK ISP to provide free parental filters. Opal Telecoms changes its name to TalkTalk Business.
  • 2012 - TalkTalk partners with YouView to inaugurate TalkTalk TV. TalkTalk Mobile is launched (via Vodafone’s network).
  • 2013 - TalkTalk blocks all nuisance calls network-wide.
  • 2014 - Work begins on TalkTalk’s 1GB UFO broadband network in York in a joint venture with Sky and CityFibre.
  • 2015 - TalkTalk acquires tIPicall and begins providing VoIP services to UK businesses.
  • 2016 - TalkSafe is introduced, allowing customers to use their voice as a password.

Present day

TalkTalk’s most recent ventures have been the acquisition of tIPicall, a SIP calls provider, which has allowed TalkTalk Business to start offering VoIP services to its corporate customers. More recently, the launch of TalkSafe has allowed 4 million TalkTalk customers to prove their identity using their voice instead of by typing in personal details.

TalkTalk’s broadband network covers 96% of UK households, and it is planning to expand its UFO broadband offer to a wider customer base - allowing it to offer much higher speeds and decrease its reliance on BT’s Openreach network.

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