Should I ask for a TalkTalk upgrade or renew my broadband package?
If your TalkTalk contract is coming to an end, you might be wondering if it's time to switch providers, or stick with TalkTalk and get a new deal.
At Broadband Genie, we think it’s a great idea for customers who are out of contract to spend some time browsing the latest broadband deals out there.
By switching, you can often make use of introductory offers such as gift cards, or credit towards your account. Sadly, customers who stay on their contracts regularly get a raw deal.
We make it easy to check out the latest offers available. Get savvy with these, and they can really add to the value of your broadband deal.
As well as clear pricing, our broadband comparison table will show you the ‘effective monthly cost’. This calculates a monthly price for your full term, depending on any rewards you get at the start of your contract (although, as we've just mentioned, we can't always predict those pesky mid-contract price rises) .
Here are just a few of the best deals with free gifts going right now:
Whatever you do, don’t let your existing TalkTalk contract continue without checking the alternatives.
Customers who stay with the same broadband provider without renewing can end up paying more than those who switch or negotiate a new deal. Mid-contract price hikes added by many providers are partly to blame for this. In 2023, for example, TalkTalk customers were hit with a 14.2% price increase. In 2024, it's likely prices will rise another 7%. Switching could be one way to claw this amount back.
If you prefer to stay with TalkTalk, you’ll be better off taking advantage of a deal for existing customers rather than simply letting your current contract continue.
TalkTalk existing customer deals
Get in touch with TalkTalk and explain you’re deciding whether to renew or not. Ask if there are any special deals going for existing customers at the moment. Be prepared to get into haggling mode!
Often, you’ll be able to take advantage of a faster fibre broadband package at the same monthly price as a new customer. Realistically, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to access the rewards given out to brand new TalkTalk sign-ups, though.
Here are some of the best TalkTalk fibre broadband deals currently available, which you can use as a bargaining reference!:
TalkTalk upgrade deals
If you decide you’d rather stay with TalkTalk, you might have the option of upgrading to a package with a faster average download speed. For example, since you first signed up, you might find out you now have access to full fibre broadband.
This could work out in your favour as long as you’re comfortable committing to another 18-month contract length. Why? Well, by upgrading rather than switching, you may not need to pay any setup fees, and there will be minimal interruption to your broadband connection.
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What is full fibre?
Full Fibre broadband is also known as ‘Fibre To The Premises’, ‘Fibre To The Home’. This is often shortened to FTTP or FTTH. They’re all the same thing!
Instead of copper telephone wire making up the final part of the journey from that green cabinet on the street, fibre optic cables are installed right up to your home.
It’s amazing the difference in speed this small data journey can have. With full-fibre broadband, you can expect to receive speeds of 1Gb+.
The downside is full-fibre is only available to a small percentage of homes in the UK, and it’s taking a good while to get everyone up to speed.
Upgrading to TalkTalk Fibre
If you currently have ADSL (TalkTalk Fast Broadband, with an average 11Mb speed) there’s a good chance that you can upgrade to a superfast fibre package. This will give you a much quicker average download speed of 38Mb (TalkTalk Fibre 35) or 67Mb (TalkTalk Fibre 65). Weirdly, you might even find it works out cheaper!
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What is ADSL?
ADSL stands for ‘Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line’. It’s broadband technology that allows the transfer data across regular telephone lines. You can make calls at the same time as being connected to the internet.
An ADSL line will, at minimum, allow for a broadband connection of up to 8Mb. These days, that’s pretty slow and won’t allow you to do much other than emailing or basic web searches.
ADSL2+ is now available at nearly all exchanges across the UK with slightly faster data transfer rates of around 10-11Mb.
TalkTalk Fibre 35 and 65 use a regular BT Openreach phone line, so there’s no additional cost or work involved in switching. Add your address and postcode into our deals checker to see if TalkTalk and other fibre deals are available in your home:
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What is Openreach?
Openreach is the company that maintains the former British Telecom Network used for the majority of broadband and phone services. If a repair or installation is required, it’s Openreach who will send an engineer, not your provider.
More than 650 service providers using the Openreach network. That’s the majority of the UK’s broadband providers. This includes Sky, TalkTalk and BT. The exception to this is Virgin Media - it uses its own, separate cable network.
Upgrading to TalkTalk Ultrafast
In a few areas, TalkTalk can also offer these ultrafast fibre packages:
- TalkTalk Full Fibre 150 Broadband
- TalkTalk Full Fibre 500 Broadband
- TalkTalk Full Fibre 900 Broadband
If you currently have TalkTalk Fibre 65, this will be the only way to improve your broadband speeds without switching providers.
The reality is, not everyone will have access to full fibre broadband. The rollout of this technology is still ongoing. Currently, around 39% of the UK have access to fibre broadband on the Openreach network.
Getting TalkTalk TV as an existing customer
TalkTalk offers broadband and TV packages. You don’t need to be a new customer to sign up for this add-on.
For an extra £5 per month, customers can add on the TalkTalk TV 4K box to any superfast fibre plan. As well as over 70 live channels (including all the Freeview channels), this gives access to 30 streaming apps for catch up, including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, NOW TV and BBC iPlayer in 4K ultra HD definition. You can add and remove app subscriptions on a month by month basis.
Take note, this currently isn’t available on full fibre TalkTalk packages, but there are plans for this to be available in the future.
TalkTalk TV Hub
For the same price, those on a full fibre package can bundle in the TalkTalk TV Hub. This is a wireless device that provides access to the same live channels and includes a built-in Chromecast system.
Adding phone packages as an existing TalkTalk customer
If you don’t already have a calls plan included in your existing plan, you’re free to add these on at any time. All are on a rolling-monthly contract. There are three home phone call plans available:
- Unlimited UK Calls
Unlimited, anytime calls to UK mobile phones and landlines (for the first 60 minutes) - UK Evening & Weekend Calls
Unlimited calls from 7pm on weekends and all day on weekends (for the first 60 minutes) - International Calls
1,500 minutes to mobiles and landlines in over 50 countries.
Frequently asked questions about TalkTalk existing customer deals
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Can I upgrade my TalkTalk Broadband?
If you currently have Fast Broadband or Fibre 35, there should be scope to upgrade your broadband package and get a faster download speed. If you have TalkTalk Fibre 65, you might find this is the speediest superfast fibre package you can sign up to. Full Fibre TalkTalk broadband deals may not be available to everyone. This will be the case for any provider on the Openreach network, as the rollout of full fibre is still ongoing. Use Broadband Genie's deals checker to see if there is an upgrade option in your area.
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What's the best way to contact TalkTalk customer service?
Call TalkTalk customer service on 0345 172 0088. For more information, including TalkTalk call centre times, see our guide to TalkTalk customer service and technical support.
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Can I get a new Wi-Fi router if I upgrade or renew my TalkTalk broadband package?
You’ll be sent a new Wi-Fi hub if you sign up to a full fibre optic deal. This will either be an Amazon Eero 6 or Amazon Eero Pro 6. You might have to pay for a new router, if this is just a personal preference. If you’re renewing your contract, it’s always worth trying to ask for a free update as part of the deal! For more information, you can read our TalkTalk router round-up.
Expert Summary
It’s always worth speaking to TalkTalk customer service, even if you’re in two minds about whether you want to switch providers or not. There may be special deals available to keep you as a customer.
Generally, new customers always get the best value for money out of their broadband deals, as they can make use of sign-up incentives such as gift cards.
Before you make any hasty decisions, check what else is on offer to you by using our deals checker. Since you last signed a contract with TalkTalk you may find you now have access to much faster broadband speeds. Use this information to either haggle an upgrade with TalkTalk, or let customer services know you’re considering moving.
If you’re out of contract, and you've made your mind up you want to switch to another provider on the Openreach network (this includes BT, Sky, Plusnet and NOW Broadband), you don't have to speak to TalkTalk yourself. Your new provider will do all the work for you.
If you want to move to Virgin Media, or another provider who uses its own network (such as Hyperoptic or Gigaclear), you will have to start this switching process yourself.
For more help, you can read our guide: 'How to switch broadband and get an amazing deal'.