BT

Mobile phone users are to be protected from "shock bills" if their handsets are stolen, with a new cap on the maximum cost of calls they will be expected to pay for.

Most of Virgin Media's five million home phone, broadband and TV customers will be hit by average price hikes of 6.7% from February.

Just over four million Sky customers will pay 25% more for line rental from December compared to this time last year, as the provider is hiking costs. Some call costs are also due to rise too.

Millions of BT customers face increases on their line rental and call costs at the start of next year – but you can avoid the price hikes.

If you want to watch football matches for free live on the internet, be warned there are big question marks about the legality of doing this after internet providers were told to block access to a site offering live Premier League games.

Telephone and broadband customers could pay less for their services in future, following Ofcom proposals announced this week, which would see wholesale charges fall.

Superfast broadband customers will be offered cheaper and shorter deals and be able to switch more easily between providers under plans to open up BT's fibre cable network to more competition.

Some Sky TV customers could be hit with price hikes of up to £2.50 a month from 1 September, the telecoms provider has said.

Sky is hitting back against rival BT's move to offer free TV sport with its broadband by announcing it'll offer free broadband to Sky Sports customers.

Football fans who want access to all next season's live Premier League matches should avoid locking into a long-term broadband contract just yet.