Record 8m households in UK struggle to manage telecoms bills, says Ofcom

The number of families struggling to manage their telecoms bills has doubled over the last year. Photograph: Image Source/Getty Images

A record 8 million UK households are facing problems paying their mobile, broadband, pay-TV and streaming bills, prompting the media regulator to call on the biggest telecoms companies to reconsider the inflation-busting price rises planned for the spring.

Ofcom found in its annual affordability survey that one in seven families have cut back spending in other areas, such as on food and clothing, to afford their communication services, while 9% have cancelled a service.