Talk Home

What Talk Home does

Talk Home is a UK-based Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that sells SIM-only mobile services to individual consumers and micro-SMBs. The company was founded in 1996, originally as an international calling cards business, and has since evolved into a SIM-only mobile brand. Its operating entity is Broadsword Group Management Limited (Company No. 08130415), with Nowtel Distribution Limited acting as the data controller; both share the same London registered office at Anchor Brewhouse, 50 Shad Thames, SE1 2LY. Headcount is small at approximately 17 employees, and the company is privately held with no public listing or disclosed venture funding.

The technical core is a thin MVNO layer over EE's 5G/4G/3G/2G network, providing 99% UK coverage. Talk Home does not own spectrum or radio infrastructure; instead it bundles data, minutes, SMS, EU/EEA roaming, and international calling minutes onto SIM cards it sells directly. Differentiated technical features include VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling (included free), 5G on all plans at no extra cost, easy number porting via PAC/STAC codes (typically completed within one working day), and low-cost international calling to 200+ destinations. Distribution is entirely self-serve digital: customers order free SIMs from the website (mobile.talk-home.com), receive them via Royal Mail, and manage accounts through the My THM mobile app on iOS and Android. No retail footprint, no credit checks, and same-day SIM dispatch before 3PM support a low-friction acquisition funnel.

Talk Home monetises through monthly subscriptions (30-day rolling and 12-month plans from £5 to £25/month), pay-as-you-go credit top-ups (including a Penny Pro plan at 1p per MB/minute/SMS), usage-based data bolt-ons, and international calling and roaming add-ons. Customer segments are budget-conscious UK consumers, students and key workers (with dedicated plans from £3.99/month), international callers requiring cheap calls abroad, EU travellers needing included roaming, and BYOD users who want SIM-only flexibility without handset contracts. Marketing is conducted through the company website, a content blog, email communications, and recurring seasonal promotional campaigns (Black Friday, Christmas, Summer, Student season), with no apparent investment in AI-driven personalisation or advanced analytics.

Name

Talk Home

Legal name

Broadsword Group Management Limited

Website

https://talkhome.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Talk Home is a UK MVNO that sells no-contract and 12-month SIM-only mobile plans on EE's 5G/4G network to budget-conscious consumers, students, key workers, and international callers. The London-based, privately held company operates a self-serve digital model with 17 employees and no retail footprint.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Services

NAICS

Telecommunications Resellers (517121)

SIC

Radiotelephone Communications (4812)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer Mobile Network Operators (Retail MNOs) (HDAIAAAA)

Keywords

• Mobile virtual network operator
• SIM-only mobile plans
• Pay-as-you-go mobile
• International calling services
• EU roaming packages

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Monthly SIM-only Plans: Recurring monthly subscription for data, minutes, and SMS bundles with 30-day rolling or 12-month contract options. Plans auto-renew unless cancelled.
2. PAYG Credit Top-ups: Pay-as-you-go credit purchases for calls, texts, and data usage outside of plan allowances. Penny Pro plan offers 1p per MB/minute/SMS.
3. Data Bolt-ons: Additional data purchased as add-ons to existing plans when users need extra data allowance.
4. International Calling Add-ons: Bolt-on bundles for international minutes to specific destinations, country-specific roaming data packs, and roaming add-ons for travel outside EU.
5. EU/International Roaming Charges: Standard roaming rates applied when usage exceeds plan roaming allowances or when traveling outside covered destinations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Talk Home operates as a UK Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) on EE's network, selling SIM-only mobile plans in three formats: 30-day rolling subscriptions, 12-month fixed-price contracts, and PAYG. All plans bundle UK minutes, SMS, and 5G data (5GB–600GB/unlimited) at prices from £3.99 to £25/month, with inclusive EU roaming and VoLTE/Wi-Fi Calling as standard. The company also monetises international calling to 200+ destinations and offers the My THM app for self-serve account management.

Product overview

Talk Home is a UK-based mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) offering SIM-only mobile services. The core product is a portfolio of SIM-only deals providing data, minutes, and SMS allowances. The product lineup includes three contract formats: 30-Day Rolling Plans (flexible, cancelable monthly), 12-Month Plans (fixed pricing through 2026), and PAYG Plans (pay-as-you-go with Penny Pro at 1p/MB). Plan tiers range from Starter (5-7GB) through Platinum (unlimited/600GB), with prices from £3.99 to £25/month. All plans include 5G connectivity, VoLTE, Wi-Fi Calling, and free EU roaming (with data caps varying by plan). The company also offers the My THM mobile app for account management, international calling plans, data bolt-ons, and seasonal promotional offers (Christmas, Black Friday, Student discounts). Talk Home operates on the EE network infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 30-Day Rolling SIM-Only Plans Monthly subscription SIM-only plans with no long-term commitment that auto-renew every 30 days. Customers can cancel anytime after the first 14 days. All plans include unlimited UK minutes and SMS, 5G connectivity, VoLTE, Wi-Fi Calling, and free EU roaming (with data caps varying by tier). Prices range from £5/month (5GB Starter Plus) to £25/month (600GB Flexi Platinum with 1000 international minutes). Target buyer is the budget-conscious UK consumer or BYOD user.
• 12-Month Fixed-Price SIM-Only Plans SIM-only plans with 12-month commitment offering lower monthly prices than rolling equivalents. Fixed pricing guaranteed through 2026/2027 with no mid-contract price rises. Early termination charges apply outside the 14-day cooling-off period. All plans include unlimited UK minutes and SMS, 5G connectivity, VoLTE, Wi-Fi Calling, and free EU roaming. Prices range from £5/month (7GB Starter Max 12) to £22.50/month (unlimited 12 Month Platinum with 1000 international minutes).
• PAYG (Pay-As-You-Go) Plans Pay-as-you-go SIM cards where customers pay upfront for credit to use on calls, texts, and data without monthly commitments. Includes the Penny Pro option at 1p per MB/minute/SMS with 1p activation, suited for minimal users or backup phones. PAYG plans offer flexible top-up options with no pressure to top up; service is not restricted or cut off if unable to top up.
• International Calling Plans Calling bundles for international destinations starting from 1p/minute to over 240 destinations worldwide including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and other South Asian, African, and global markets. Bundled international minute plans available as part of premium SIM plans (e.g. 1000 international minutes in Platinum tier). Designed for UK residents with overseas family, friends, or business contacts who need low-cost international voice.
• Data Bolt-Ons Additional data packages that can be added to existing plans when customers need extra data allowance. Options include 1GB bolt-on for £3, EU roaming data passes (3-day, 7-day, 15-day options), and destination-specific data packages. Provides flexible usage top-up without requiring a plan change.
• EU Roaming Free roaming included in most plans across 35+ EU/EEA destinations (also extends to Australia, San Marino, and Ukraine). Different plans have different roaming data caps ranging from 2GB to 35GB. Additional roaming add-ons available for purchase for travellers needing extra data or for destinations outside the standard coverage area. Eliminates per-day roaming fees charged by competitors post-Brexit.
• Free SIM Card Free SIM card delivered via Royal Mail to UK addresses. Customers can choose free SIM only, free SIM with credit, or free SIM with a plan pre-loaded. Includes all three SIM sizes (standard, micro, nano) so it fits any device. Designed to remove friction from the customer acquisition funnel.
• My THM Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android that allows customers to manage their Talk Home account, top-up credit, view usage history, and renew plans on the go. Available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store. App login page states 'Helping make 12M connections possible each month', anchoring the service's scale.

Quantifiable outcome

• Savings of £26/month compared to other networks (per customer testimonial)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• EE NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationTalk Home operates as an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) on EE's network infrastructure, providing customers with 5G/4G/3G/2G coverage across 99% of the UK. EE is the UK's #1 network for 9 consecutive years. This partnership provides the underlying network infrastructure for all Talk Home services.
• Royal MailsupportChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRoyal Mail handles SIM card delivery to UK customers. Orders placed before 3PM are dispatched same day, with delivery typically within 1-3 business days.
• Nowtel Distribution LimitedcoreOthersData controller entity for Talk Home Mobile services, registered at Anchor Brewhouse 2nd Floor, 50 Shad Thames, London SE1 2LY. Responsible for data processing and compliance.
• Broadsword Group Management LimitedcoreOthersOperating company for the mobile.talk-home.com website. Registered in England and Wales under company number 08130415, with registered office at Anchor Brewhouse 2nd Floor, 50 Shad Thames, London SE1 2LY. VAT number 178 2195 80.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• VOXI: Vodafone sub-brand targeting younger users with unlimited social media and SIM-only deals. Comparable digital-first acquisition model and price-sensitive consumer targeting.
• Giffgaff: UK MVNO operating on O2's network with a digital-first, community-driven SIM-only model. Closest analogue to Talk Home: similar target audience of budget-conscious consumers, no-contract plans, and online self-serve acquisition.
• Smarty Mobile: UK MVNO on Three's network offering simple, low-cost SIM-only plans with no contracts. Highly comparable to Talk Home on price-led positioning, simplicity, and digital distribution.
• Sky Mobile: UK MVNO on O2's network operated by Sky, offering SIM-only plans with TV/internet bundling. Comparable SIM-only product, broader consumer base through Sky's ecosystem.
• Plusnet Mobile: UK MVNO running on the same EE network as Talk Home, offering SIM-only deals to value-seeking customers. Comparable on host network, customer base, and value-tier pricing.
• iD Mobile: UK MVNO on Three's network offering SIM-only plans and handsets to budget-conscious consumers. Comparable value-tier SIM-only structure and digital acquisition channels.
• Tesco Mobile: UK MVNO on O2's network operated by Tesco, serving value-seeking consumers with SIM-only and handset bundles. Comparable SIM-only product, similar value-tier pricing structure.
• Lebara Mobile: UK MVNO on Vodafone's network focused on international calling and diaspora customers. Direct competitor to Talk Home in the international-calling niche with comparable pricing to 200+ destinations.
• Lyca Mobile: UK MVNO specializing in low-cost international calling and roaming. Closely comparable to Talk Home's international calling value proposition and diaspora target segment.

Broad incumbents

• EE: UK's largest MNO and Talk Home's wholesale network partner. Comparable consumer mobile service offering at much larger scale with overlapping budget-tier sub-brands that directly compete for Talk Home's target customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/talkhomeuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Talk Home