Direct answer: a 12-month broadband contract sits between the flexibility of a rolling month-to-month deal and the lower monthly price of a 24-month term. In April 2026, genuine 12-month broadband in the UK is offered nationally by Rebel Internet, and in pockets by altnets Community Fibre, Hyperoptic and BeFibre. Virgin Media, BT, Sky and most large ISPs have moved their headline deals to 18 or 24 months, although short-form options still surface on request.
Who actually offers 12-month broadband in 2026?
The list of providers offering a true 12-month term has narrowed over the past few years. Here is the current picture, reviewed in April 2026. Always confirm at exact-address level before ordering.
| Provider | Speeds available on 12-month | Network | Typical monthly price band | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rebel Internet | 100Mbps to 900Mbps | Openreach FTTP | £28 to £44 | National where Openreach full fibre is live |
| Community Fibre | 150Mbps to 3Gbps | Own full fibre | £22 to £42 | London boroughs only |
| Hyperoptic | 50Mbps to 1Gbps symmetric | Own full fibre (in-building) | £25 to £45 | Wired buildings in major UK cities |
| BeFibre | 150Mbps to 1Gbps | Own full fibre | £25 to £40 | Build-out areas in the North and Midlands |
| NOW Broadband | 36Mbps to 63Mbps (select deals) | Openreach FTTC | £20 to £28 | National where Openreach FTTC is live |
Prices are typical ranges from published April 2026 tariffs and can vary by address, promotion and time of year. Confirm the exact figure in the live postcode comparison before ordering.
Does Virgin Media do a 12-month broadband contract in 2026?
As of April 2026, Virgin Media's standard consumer broadband terms are 18 and 24 months. Virgin Media has occasionally offered 12-month plans on its M125 tier in the past, and short-form variants surface for specific customer groups (for example, students in term-time windows), but these are not listed as headline products. If you see a "Virgin 12 month contract" promoted on a third-party site, check the small print at the point of order, because many are actually 18-month deals quoted on a 12-month effective cost.
If 12 months is a firm requirement and Virgin Media cable is the only option at your address, the practical alternatives are: take the 18-month Virgin Media term and accept the commitment, or look at Rebel Internet on Openreach full fibre where available, or look at 5G home broadband from Three or Vodafone as a 1-month rolling option.
12-month vs 24-month: which actually costs less over the year you stay?
A 24-month contract nearly always has a lower monthly price, but a 12-month contract usually comes with different price-rise terms and gives you a clean exit at the end of the first year. Here is a worked example at a similar speed band in April 2026.
| Term | Monthly price (illustrative) | Annual price rise | 12-month total cost | 24-month total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-month altnet example | £27 | None in contract | £324 | Renegotiate after month 12 |
| 24-month mainstream example | £25 (rising by £3.50 after 12 months) | Flat £3.50 a month | £300 in year one | £642 over 24 months |
The 24-month contract is cheaper only if you are confident you will stay the full 24 months. If your home or income situation could change within a year, the 12-month option often ends up cheaper in real life, because it avoids the price rise and the early-exit fee.
When 12 months is the right call
- You are renting on a 12-month tenancy or a short assured tenancy.
- You are mid-purchase on a property and expect to move in the next year.
- You are a student in term-time-only accommodation.
- You want to try a new altnet without a long lock-in.
- You expect a household change (new baby, remote-work shift, downsizing) inside a year.
- You want to reset price annually as the market becomes more competitive.
When 24 months is still the better call
- You have a stable home you expect to stay in for two years plus.
- The cheapest monthly price matters more than term flexibility.
- Only one provider serves your address and they only list 24-month terms.
- You want to lock in now before any future market price rises.
Early exit and moving home on a 12-month contract
Early exit fees on a 12-month contract are usually calculated as the remaining monthly payments, minus VAT and any line-rental element. Most UK providers now wave or reduce exit fees if you are moving home and they cannot serve your new address, under Ofcom's moving-home guidance. If the provider pushes a mid-contract price rise that exceeds what was signalled at sign-up, you have a 30-day right to exit without a charge under Ofcom's 2025 in-contract price rise rules.
Setup fees and lead times
Most 12-month deals carry a small setup fee (typically £0 to £35) and self-install delivery within 3 to 10 working days on Openreach FTTP or FTTC. Altnet installs with a new drop can take longer: Hyperoptic in an already-wired building is often 3 to 7 days, Community Fibre in a newly-wired building can be 10 to 21 days. Virgin Media cable typically needs 10 to 14 days with an engineer visit for a new line. Always factor the lead time into any house move.
How to switch at the end of a 12-month contract
From April 2024 the UK has One Touch Switch for consumer broadband. You choose the new provider, they trigger the switch, and the old provider stands down automatically. You do not need to phone the old provider to cancel in most cases. For a clean change at the end of 12 months, begin comparing 10 to 14 days before the contract end date, then let the new provider time the switch to land on or just after the end. See our switching guide for the full five-step method.
Common 12-month broadband myths, checked
- "12-month deals are always more expensive." Often true per-month, but not always total cost once you factor in price rises and the absence of a second-year lock-in.
- "Virgin Media does not do 12 months." In 2026, Virgin Media's default consumer terms are 18 and 24 months. Short-form exceptions exist but are not the headline offer.
- "Altnets are unreliable so avoid 12-month altnets." Hyperoptic, Community Fibre and Zen-adjacent networks consistently rank top of Ofcom's complaint league for reliability. Reliability is an address-level, network-level question, not a length-of-contract question.
- "12-month contracts have no price rises." Most do not raise prices inside the 12 months, but confirm this in the contract before signing. A "no price rise for 12 months" promise is different from "no price rise ever".
Extra FAQs on 12-month broadband
Is there a cheapest 12-month broadband deal in 2026?
The cheapest true 12-month deal in April 2026 is typically NOW Broadband's entry FTTC plan at around £20 a month where FTTC is the best available technology, or Community Fibre's 150Mbps full fibre at around £22 a month in London boroughs where it is available. Confirm live pricing for your exact address.
Can I get 12-month broadband on full fibre?
Yes. Rebel Internet nationally, and altnets Community Fibre, Hyperoptic and BeFibre in their coverage areas, all offer 12-month contracts on full fibre. If only Openreach-based mainstream ISPs reach your address, 24-month is often the only option at the best prices, with 12-month mostly available on Rebel's product range.
Do 12-month broadband deals include a router?
Yes. All the providers listed above include a Wi-Fi router as standard. Return policies vary: Hyperoptic and Community Fibre usually expect the router back at end of contract, while Rebel Internet and NOW Broadband often let you keep the unit. Check the terms before you order.
What happens automatically at the end of a 12-month broadband contract?
Most providers will move you onto a rolling monthly tariff at a higher price, and must write to you with a clear "end of contract" notification at least 10 working days before the term ends, under Ofcom rules. This is the best window to compare and switch using One Touch Switch for the cleanest handover.