Exactly how much extra customers will have to pay depends on when they signed up to their current deal.

BT and EE contracts allow for price rises in line with inflation each year – this means customers won’t be able to leave penalty-free unless they’re out of contract.

BT and EE customers who signed up to their current deal after 1 September 2020 or before 11 January 2019 are likely to face a 4.5% rise from 31 March.

This includes those who have BT Sport as part of a contracted TV deal.

However, those who have a BT Sport Monthly Pass won’t see prices rise as the pass can be cancelled at any time. The other exception is if you’re a BT Basic or Home Phone Saver customer, in which case prices also won’t rise.

BT and EE introduced new terms and conditions last September that allow them to increase bills once a year using a calculation of 3.9 percentage points + the consumer prices index (CPI) measure of inflation for the previous December, as announced in January.

Thee inflation figure is 0.6%, meaning a total 4.5% hike.

BT and EE say the average increase is less than £2 a month – or under £24 a year.

BT and EE customers who signed their current contract between 11 January 2019 and 31 August 2020 are subject to different terms. Their contracts allow for an annual increase pegged to the previous December’s CPI as announced in January – so a rise of 0.6%.

Plusnet, which is part of the same telecoms group as BT and EE, is not affected by the increases taking force on 31 March. Prices for Plusnet customers are currently linked to April’s CPI inflation figure, as announced in May, which has not been revealed yet.