UK telecom market generated a combined £18.57 billion from fixed voice and mobile services in 2025, data from Ofcom shows.
Fixed voice service revenue totalled £4.0665 billion, declining steadily across the year from £1.09 billion in Q1 to £0.9414 billion in Q4, reflecting reduced reliance on traditional voice services.
Mobile services delivered £14.5 billion in revenue, maintaining stability and growth. Quarterly revenues rose from £3.50 billion in Q1 to £3.69 billion in both Q2 and Q3, before slightly easing to £3.62 billion in Q4.
Q4
UK fixed voice service revenues fell to £941.4 million in Q4 2025, dropping by £53.7 million quarter-on-quarter and £209.3 million year-on-year, reflecting an 18.2 percent annual decline. The total number of fixed lines decreased by 626,000, or 2.8 percent, to 21.4 million. Fixed-originated call volumes also dropped sharply by 14.7 percent year-on-year to 3.51 billion minutes. Despite this, fixed broadband lines rose slightly to 29.3 million, increasing by 126,000, indicating stable demand for high-speed connectivity.
In contrast, mobile services delivered stronger financial and usage growth. Retail mobile revenues reached £3.62 billion in Q4 2025, rising £45.7 million or 1.3 percent year-on-year. Average monthly revenue per subscriber stood at £13.24, with post-paid users generating £15.79 compared to £5.4 from prepaid customers.
The number of active mobile subscriptions increased to 91.1 million, up 1.1 million year-on-year, while dedicated mobile broadband connections grew by 308,000 to 5.3 million. However, traditional communication metrics continued to decline.
Mobile-originated voice call volumes fell by 1.70 billion minutes, or 4.4 percent, to 37.11 billion minutes, with calls to landlines declining 7.8 percent to 6.04 billion minutes. Messaging volumes also dropped significantly by 26.5 percent to 4.96 billion.
Data usage remains the key growth driver, rising by 406 petabytes or 15.2 percent to 3,087 petabytes. This surge underscores the ongoing transition toward data-centric services, driven by streaming, social media, and digital applications.
Q3
Fixed voice revenues fell to £995.1 million, declining by 4.6 percent sequentially and 16.7 percent year-on-year. The total number of fixed lines dropped by 897,000 to 22.0 million, while fixed-originated call volumes decreased by 18.3 percent to 3.47 billion minutes. In contrast, fixed broadband lines showed marginal growth, reaching 29.2 million.
Mobile services remained resilient, generating £3.69 billion in retail revenues, up 2.8 percent year-on-year. Average monthly revenue per user stood at £13.58, with post-paid subscribers contributing significantly higher revenue than prepaid users. Total mobile subscriptions rose to 91.0 million, while dedicated mobile broadband connections increased to 5.2 million.
Traditional mobile usage declined, with voice call minutes falling 3.9 percent and messaging volumes dropping 24.3 percent. However, mobile data usage surged by 15.3 percent to 3,055 petabytes, reinforcing the shift toward data-driven consumption.
Q2
Fixed voice revenues fell to £1.04 billion, down 4.0 percent sequentially and 14.1 percent year-on-year. The number of fixed lines decreased by 700,000 to 22.9 million, while fixed-originated call volumes dropped sharply by 20.5 percent to 3.61 billion minutes. However, fixed broadband lines rose slightly to 29.2 million, reflecting stable demand for internet connectivity.
Mobile services generated £3.69 billion in retail revenues, increasing 3.0 percent. Average monthly revenue per user was £13.68, with post-paid users contributing significantly higher revenue than prepaid subscribers. Total mobile subscriptions reached 90.0 million, while dedicated mobile broadband connections grew to 5.1 million.
Traditional mobile usage continued to decline, with voice call minutes falling 6.1 percent and messaging volumes dropping 22.7 percent. Meanwhile, mobile data usage increased by 11.6 percent to 2,911 petabytes, underscoring the shift toward data-driven services.
Q1
Fixed voice revenues declined to £1.09 billion, down 5.6 percent quarter-on-quarter and 13.3 percent year-on-year. The total number of fixed lines fell by 715,000 to 23.6 million, while fixed-originated call volumes dropped sharply by 23.5 percent to 3.90 billion minutes. In contrast, fixed broadband lines increased to 29.2 million, up 2.7 percent year-on-year, indicating sustained demand for internet connectivity.
Mobile services generated £3.50 billion in retail revenues, rising 2.7 percent. Average monthly revenue per user stood at £13.05, with post-paid subscribers contributing significantly more than prepaid users. Mobile subscriptions reached 89.1 million, while dedicated mobile broadband connections grew to 4.8 million.
Traditional mobile usage continued to decline, with voice call volumes falling 7.0 percent and messaging down 19.9 percent. Meanwhile, mobile data usage rose 7.6 percent to 2,686 petabytes, reinforcing the shift toward data-driven services.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH