Inflation adjustments are the norm in business telecom
Inflation adjustments will remain a standard part of business telecom contracts well into 2026. Nearly all major Dutch telecom providers adjust their rates annually based on inflation indexes. This is particularly true for business mobile phone subscriptions and data services.
These price adjustments are usually contractually stipulated in the terms and conditions and are implemented automatically. For organizations, this means that telecom costs can rise structurally, regardless of actual usage or the number of connections.
How major providers deal with this
Major Dutch providers like KPN, Vodafone, and Odido apply inflation-related price adjustments to their business rates. Annual increases based on consumer price indexes (CPI) or similar inflation indicators are common and legally enforceable as long as they are contractually agreed upon in advance.
Although the exact calculation methodology may vary per provider, the outcome is often similar: an annual cost increase that is automatically passed on to business customers.
Impact on budgets and cost control
For many organizations, this makes telecom invoices less predictable. Inflation adjustments are added to any contract renewals, plan changes, or additional services. Without active monitoring, this can lead to structurally higher costs without any additional value.
Therefore, it is wise to explicitly include inflation adjustments in the budget planning for 2026. Taking this into account in advance prevents unexpected cost increases and creates room to explore alternatives.
Why benchmarking is becoming increasingly important
In practice, business telecom contracts often remain unchanged for years, while market rates and subscription types change. Experience shows that organizations can regularly achieve significant savings by objectively benchmarking their mobile phone contracts.
A benchmark provides insight into:
- whether rates are still in line with market standards
- how inflation adjustments relate to alternative contract forms
- whether bundles and subscriptions still match actual usage
Closing note
Inflation adjustments in business telecom contracts are common and legally permitted. This means that organizations will almost certainly face higher telecom costs by 2026. By factoring these increases into budgets promptly and having contracts critically reviewed, unnecessary cost increases can be prevented.
Would you like to know whether your mobile phone contract is still in line with market rates?
Feel free to contact us and let us benchmark your mobile telecom contract. In many cases, this leads to significant cost savings without sacrificing quality or coverage.
Click here for more information about our Mobile Telephony Contract Optimization Services.