Vodafone 5G Broadband Essentials, October 2026 A social tariff from £11 is on its way. Here is what is confirmed so far From £11 a month, planned price (about 36p a day, our sum) Vodafone, 29 September 2026 £0 upfront cost, Vodafone says Vodafone, 29 September 2026 Not yet on sale, with no launch date given Checked 19 October 2026 £20 Vodafone's social tariff on sale today, Fibre 2 Essentials Vodafone Vodafone has announced 5G Broadband Essentials, a social tariff from £11 a month with no upfront cost, for customers on government benefits or identified as financially vulnerable. It isn't on sale yet. As of 19 October 2026, Vodafone hasn't given a launch date, speeds, contract terms or the full list of qualifying benefits. If you need cheaper broadband now, you don't have to wait: Vodafone's £20 Fibre 2 Essentials and other providers' social tariffs are on sale today. Key facts, checked 19 October 2026 Who this is for: Anyone on benefits looking for cheaper broadband, renters who move often, homes without full fibre, and the family members, carers and support workers who help them get connected. For how social tariffs work in general, see our guide to how a social tariff differs from a cheap deal. Direct answer: Not yet. Vodafone announced it on 29 September 2026 and said it "will soon" launch, but as of 19 October 2026 it isn't on sale and there's no launch date. Launch tracker, checked 19 October 2026 Announced by Vodafone Press release, 29 September 2026 Starting price announced: from £11 a month, no upfront cost Same press release Product page on vodafone.co.uk Not there. The 5G Broadband page shows 1, 12 and 24-month plans only Terms and conditions Vodafone's October 2026 5G Broadband terms don't mention Essentials On Ofcom's social tariff list Not listed. Ofcom last updated its list on 2 October 2026 On sale, with a launch date No date given yet Vodafone announced the new tariff alongside its Pro 4 broadband and other updates. It said it "will soon expand its 5G Broadband offering with 5G Broadband Essentials", calling it "a social tariff for customers on government benefits or identified as financially vulnerable". Rob Winterschladen, Consumer Director at VodafoneThree, said: "Our 5G Broadband Essentials social tariff will offer the most affordable 5G broadband on the market". Direct answer: Vodafone says plans will start from £11 a month with no upfront cost. It hasn't yet published speeds, the contract length, price-rise terms or the router you'd get. Confirmed so far, and still to come What Vodafone has said Not published yet "Plans from £11" suggests there could be more than one tier, as there is on Vodafone's standard 5G Broadband, which offers up to 50Mbps or 150Mbps. That's our reading, and Vodafone hasn't confirmed it. For a sense of value, standard 5G Broadband starts at £18 a month on a 24-month contract, rising to £21.50 on 1 April 2027 and £25 on 1 April 2028, Vodafone's page says. Direct answer: Vodafone says it's for customers on government benefits or identified as financially vulnerable. It hasn't published the exact benefit list for the 5G version yet. For a guide, Vodafone's current social tariff, Fibre 2 Essentials, lists eight benefits: Jobseeker's Allowance, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, Reduced Earnings Allowance, Personal Independence Payments and Disability Allowance, written as Vodafone gives them. Ofcom's general rule is that "The person receiving the benefit needs to be the main person on the contract." Our social tariff eligibility guide compares what each provider accepts. Direct answer: At £11 it would undercut every home broadband social tariff on Ofcom's list, where the lowest is £12. Mobile SIM social tariffs from VOXI and O2 cost £10. Home broadband social tariffs from major providers, cheapest plan from each Vodafone calls the new tariff "the most affordable social broadband option on the market" and says it will make Vodafone "the only UK provider offering 5G Broadband on a social tariff". Those are Vodafone's claims. Ofcom's list does include mobile SIM social tariffs that run on 5G where available, such as VOXI For Now, which is a Vodafone brand, and the O2 Essential Plan, both at £10. Ofcom also notes that "Low-cost standard SIM-only deals are also available and in some cases are cheaper than the available social tariffs." Our social tariffs guide lists every tariff we've checked. Direct answer: At its starting price it would cost £9 a month less than Fibre 2 Essentials, which is on sale today at £20. But until Vodafone publishes the 5G terms, we can't compare speeds or contracts. One thing to watch on the fibre plan: Vodafone's page says "Up to 80 Mbps", but its own FAQ says "we cannot offer faster download speeds than 73Mbps on Vodafone Essentials". If speed matters to you, ask Vodafone which applies at your address. Our Vodafone deals guide covers its standard plans. Direct answer: Standard 5G Broadband needs strong 5G at your address, and Essentials is likely to as well. Speeds depend on your signal and how busy the network is, so they can vary through the day. How Vodafone's 5G Broadband works today Speed Up to 50Mbps or 150Mbps, depending on where you live. Vodafone says speed varies through the day and isn't guaranteed. Signal You need strong 5G at your address. Where 5G isn't available, or the network fluctuates, it "may fall back to 4G". Kit An indoor 5G Hub, or a self-installed Outdoor Hub where the signal is stronger outside. If you leave and don't return it, the charge is £120 or £130. Moving home The kit is for use at your approved address. If you move, Vodafone checks 5G at your new home and "may be able to continue your existing Plan". If it can't serve you there, you can cancel without early termination fees. Data Unlimited, but use over 1TB a month may be looked at, and traffic can be de-prioritised at busy times. See our fair usage guide. No phone line 5G Broadband "doesn't need a phone line". If you need a landline, ask how calls would work before you order. Vodafone says its postcode checker "assesses coverage at a customer's exact address and recommends either full fibre or 5G Broadband, based on which delivers the best performance in their home". The big pluses are no engineer visit and no phone line. The trade-off is that wireless speeds move around more than a fixed line. Our 4G vs 5G home broadband guide explains the difference. Direct answer: Because millions of homes still can't get full fibre. Ofcom says 82% of UK homes could get it in January 2026, which leaves about 5.6 million that couldn't, by our sum. UK homes with and without full fibre, January 2026 Vodafone says its 5G Broadband reaches "an additional 3.7 million homes and premises currently unable to access full fibre". That is Vodafone's own figure, from its May 2026 launch. Vodafone describes its 5G range as giving "households who still can't access full fibre" more choice. For a home on benefits that's still on slow copper, a cheap 5G plan could be a real step up, as long as the signal is good. If 5G isn't strong at your address, our guide to broadband when fibre isn't available sets out the other options. Direct answer: About 532,000 customers in June 2025, Ofcom says. That's under 9% of eligible households, and 70% of eligible households didn't know social tariffs existed. Most people who could get a social tariff don't know they exist 70 in every 100 eligible households were unaware of social tariffs in October 2025. 532,000 customers on a fixed or mobile broadband social tariff, June 2025 Ofcom Under 9% of eligible households take one up Ofcom 3 to 30+ broadband social tariff options, 2020 to December 2025 Ofcom Ofcom says broadband social tariffs have grown from three in 2020 to more than 30 by December 2025. Ofcom reports that major providers signed the government's Telecoms Consumer Charter on 12 February 2026, and it names VodafoneThree among the signatories. The charter includes "making sure that social tariffs are well-signposted and easier to access". More choice at the cheap end, like a 5G option, should help more people find one that fits. Direct answer: If you qualify and need to save now, take a social tariff that's on sale today. Ofcom says social tariffs cost nothing to leave, so you can switch later if Vodafone's 5G plan suits you better. Should you wait for it? Five quick checks Do you get a qualifying benefit, or could you count as financially vulnerable? Vodafone says the tariff is for both. If neither applies, compare standard deals at your postcode. In London, Community Fibre's £12.50 plan is open to all new customers. Is 5G Broadband Essentials on sale yet? Not as of 19 October 2026. Go to step 4 for now, and check back later. Does Vodafone's checker offer 5G Broadband at your address? If not, it won't suit your home. Go to step 4. Compare the social tariffs you can get now Use Ofcom's list and our social tariffs guide, and check each provider at your address. Pick the cheapest one that's fast enough Ofcom says a social tariff "costs nothing to leave", so you can move later if something better arrives. Ofcom also says: "If your provider offers a social tariff, you can switch to it at any time, free of charge." So if you're already with a provider that has one, ask to move onto it. Our step-by-step guide to finding a social tariff walks you through it. Need cheaper broadband now? See what's available at your address Put in your postcode to see the standard deals we can find for your home, cheapest first. Social tariffs are applied for with each provider, and our social tariffs guide lists them all. Prefer to talk it through? Call 0330 122 1223 In summary Alex's closing thought A 5G social tariff is a really welcome idea, especially for renters who move often and homes still stuck on slow copper. More choice at the cheap end of the market is good news for everyone. But a price isn't a product until you can buy it, so I wouldn't put off saving money while you wait. If you qualify, take a social tariff that's on sale now, and come back here when Vodafone publishes the full details. We'll update this page the day it does. Social tariffs 5G and homes without full fibre Know someone on benefits who's paying too much for broadband? Send them this, so they can find a social tariff today. You are welcome to quote and link to this article. Please credit Vodafone and Ofcom for their figures, BroadbandSwitch.uk for the charts and the launch tracker, and link to this page. In a sentence: On 29 September 2026 Vodafone announced 5G Broadband Essentials, a 5G home broadband social tariff from £11 a month with no upfront cost for customers on government benefits or identified as financially vulnerable, but as of 19 October 2026 it was not yet on sale and Vodafone had not published a launch date, speeds or contract terms. Not yet. Vodafone announced it on 29 September 2026 and said it "will soon" launch. As of 19 October 2026 there's no product page and no launch date. Vodafone says plans will start "from £11 a month" with "no upfront cost". It hasn't published the full price list yet. Vodafone says it's for "customers on government benefits or identified as financially vulnerable". The exact list of benefits hasn't been published. For Fibre 2 Essentials, Vodafone lists Jobseeker's Allowance, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, Reduced Earnings Allowance, Personal Independence Payments and Disability Allowance. Vodafone hasn't said. Its standard 5G Broadband offers up to 50Mbps or 150Mbps depending on where you live, and speeds vary through the day. For Vodafone's standard 5G Broadband, yes. It depends on strong 5G coverage at your address, and the service "may fall back to 4G" where 5G isn't available. Vodafone hasn't said so. Its eligibility wording is about benefits and financial vulnerability. Its postcode checker recommends full fibre or 5G Broadband, whichever works best at your address. Vodafone hasn't published the terms yet. Its Fibre 2 Essentials plan has "No in-contract price increase", and Ofcom says a social tariff's price "won't go up mid-contract". Standard 5G Broadband does rise each 1 April by a fixed amount set out before you sign, so check the Essentials terms when they're published. Fibre 2 Essentials: £20 a month on a 12-month contract, with no upfront fees, no in-contract price increase and no early termination fee. Vodafone says it will be the most affordable social broadband. On Ofcom's list, home broadband social tariffs start at £12, and mobile SIM social tariffs from VOXI and O2 cost £10. Possibly, on standard 5G Broadband. Tell Vodafone you're moving. It checks 5G coverage at your new address and "may be able to continue your existing Plan" there. If it can't provide 5G Broadband, you can cancel without early termination fees. If you need to save now, no. Ofcom says a social tariff "costs nothing to leave", so you can take one that's on sale today and switch later if the 5G plan suits you better. Written by Dr Alex J. Martin-Smith, Founder of BroadbandSwitch.uk (LinkedIn). Reviewed by Adrian James, Broadband Editor. Published 19 October 2026. We read Vodafone's 29 September and 11 May 2026 press releases, its 5G Broadband and Essentials Broadband pages, its October 2026 5G Broadband terms, Ofcom's social tariffs page, pricing report and Connected Nations figures, and the social tariff pages of Virgin Media, Community Fibre and Hyperoptic on 19 October 2026. Ofcom's pages were read through a page fetch, because the browser met a security check. This is general information, not financial advice. Corrections are logged publicly.Vodafone 5G Broadband Essentials: What We Know About the £11 Social Tariff Before Launch
Has Vodafone 5G Broadband Essentials launched?
How much will it cost, and what's included?
Who will be able to get it?
How does £11 compare with other social tariffs?
How does it compare with Vodafone's £20 fibre social tariff?
Fibre 2 Essentials 5G Broadband Essentials Status On sale Announced, not on sale yet Monthly price £20 (66p a day, Vodafone says) From £11 (planned) Upfront cost No upfront fees No upfront cost (planned) How it connects Fixed line, with line rental included Vodafone's 5G network; details not published Speed "Up to 80 Mbps" on the page, though its FAQ says 73Mbps is the most it can offer Not published Contract 12 months, no early termination fee Not published Price rises No in-contract price increase Not published After the contract Carry on if you still qualify and Vodafone still offers it; if not, move to a standard plan or leave free. Vodafone also says: "If no action is taken, the price will increase to £25." Not published Credit check Yes Not published Will 5G home broadband work well at my address?
Why could this matter for homes without full fibre?
How many people use social tariffs?
What should I do while I wait?
Keep going: more on social tariffs and 5G broadband
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Martin-Smith, A. J. (2026, October 19). Vodafone 5G Broadband Essentials: What we know about the £11 social tariff before launch. BroadbandSwitch.uk. https://broadbandswitch.uk/insights/vodafone-5g-broadband-essentials-social-tariff/ Frequently asked questions
Is Vodafone 5G Broadband Essentials available now?
How much will Vodafone 5G Broadband Essentials cost?
Who will be able to get Vodafone 5G Broadband Essentials?
Which benefits qualify for Vodafone's current social tariff?
How fast will Vodafone 5G Broadband Essentials be?
Do I need 5G coverage at home to get it?
Is Vodafone 5G Broadband Essentials only for homes without full fibre?
Will the price go up during the contract?
What social tariff can I get from Vodafone today?
Is £11 the cheapest social tariff in the UK?
Can I take a Vodafone 5G hub with me if I move?
Should I wait for Vodafone 5G Broadband Essentials?
References
Vodafone's £11 5G Social Tariff: What We Know Before Launch
Written by Alex Martin-Smith (LinkedIn) • Reviewed by Adrian James (LinkedIn)
Last reviewed: 19 October 2026
Quick summary: Vodafone has announced 5G Broadband Essentials, a social tariff from £11 a month. It isn't on sale yet. What we know, who it's for and what to do now.
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Planned, not on saleOn saleVodafone's on-sale tariffMobile SIM, for comparison
Vodafone 5G Broadband EssentialsPlanned, speed not published · Vodafone, 29 Sep 2026
from £11
Virgin Media Essential Broadband15Mbps average download, rolling 30-day · Virgin Media page
£12.50
Community Fibre Essential 3535Mbps average, 12 months; London, per Ofcom's list · Community Fibre page
£12.50
Hyperoptic Fair Fibre Plan150Mbps, monthly rolling, certain locations · Hyperoptic page
from £13
BT Home Essentials No Income36Mbps, Universal Credit with no income · Ofcom list
£16.50
Vodafone Fibre 2 EssentialsUp to 80Mbps on its page, 12 months · Vodafone page
£20
Sky Superfast 3535Mbps · Ofcom list
£20
NOW Broadband Basics36Mbps · Ofcom list
£20
Mobile SIM social tariffsVOXI For Now and O2 Essential Plan, not home broadband · Ofcom list
£10
Can get full fibre: 24.9 million (82%)Can't yet: about 5.6 million (our sum)
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