Most people pay their broadband provider £200 or more per year above what they'd pay elsewhere. They just never get around to switching. The process sounds complicated. It genuinely isn't any more.
Ofcom's One Touch Switch process, which came into force in September 2023, means switching broadband provider now takes a single contact with your new provider. You don't need to call your current provider at all. No cancellation calls, no retention teams, no awkward conversations.
How One Touch Switch works
Under One Touch Switch (OTS), the switching process is driven entirely by your new provider. Here's how it works:
- You sign up with your new provider and pick an activation date.
- Your new provider contacts your current provider on your behalf and arranges the transfer.
- On the activation date, your old service stops and your new service starts. The crossover is managed automatically.
- Your current provider cancels your old contract and sends a final bill.
You do not need to call your old provider. You do not need to give them notice separately. The new provider handles everything.
One Touch Switch applies to providers that both use the Openreach network. That covers BT, Sky, EE, Plusnet, Vodafone, TalkTalk, Shell Energy, Zen Internet, and many others. Virgin Media and Hyperoptic use their own networks and have slightly different processes, though they're required to make switching easy under Ofcom's rules.
Step-by-step: how to switch broadband provider
Step 1: Check what's available at your postcode
Before looking at deals, check what technology and providers are actually available at your address. There's no point comparing BT and Sky if Hyperoptic is in your building at half the price, or if a CityFibre provider is offering 500 Mbps for £28/month on your street.
Use the postcode checker to see every provider available at your address with real speed data.
Step 2: Compare deals and pick a new provider
Look at our April 2026 deals guide for current prices across major providers. When comparing, check:
- The price during the contract period
- Whether annual price rises are included (and how much they can be)
- The contract length (18 months vs 24 months)
- The out-of-contract rate (what you'll pay after the deal ends)
- Any activation or setup fees
Step 3: Check your current contract end date
If you're still within your minimum contract period, switching early means paying early exit fees. Check your current provider's app or online account, or ring their customer service line, to confirm when your contract ends and what the early exit fee would be.
Some providers will waive or reduce early exit fees if you've had a service issue. It's always worth asking.
If your contract has already ended, you're out of contract. This is when you have the most power. You can leave at any time with no penalties. Many people stay on out-of-contract rates for months or years without realising. They're paying the full out-of-contract price, which is often 30 to 50% more than the original deal.
Step 4: Sign up with your new provider
Go directly to your chosen provider's website and sign up. You'll need your address, bank details for the direct debit, and your preferred activation date.
Pick an activation date at least five to seven working days ahead. This gives the providers time to arrange the transfer. Most providers will recommend a date automatically based on availability.
Step 5: Return your old router
Most providers will send you a prepaid returns envelope or label for your old router after you switch. Some charge a fee if you don't return it within a set period (typically 30 days). Keep the packaging from your new router until you've confirmed the old one is back with the provider.
What happens during the switch
On your chosen activation date, your old connection will stop working at some point in the morning, and your new connection will come live. The exact timing varies. In most cases, there's a window of a few hours without service.
If you're working from home on the activation date, either plan around the downtime or have a mobile data backup ready. Most switching goes smoothly, but having a plan for a few hours offline is sensible.
If your new connection doesn't come live by the end of the activation day, call your new provider. Activation delays are rare but happen. Your new provider is responsible for resolving them.
Switching to full fibre for the first time
If you're switching from FTTC to FTTP for the first time, an engineer visit is required to install the fibre cable into your home. This takes one to two hours and requires someone to be in the property. The engineer will fit a small white box (the ONT) where the cable enters the house.
The engineer visit is typically free and is arranged at the time of sign-up. You'll be given a date and a time window. Morning slots fill up faster than afternoon ones.
Your new FTTP router will arrive by post before the engineer visit. Don't set it up until after the engineer has completed the installation.
Common switching mistakes to avoid
Switching before the contract ends. Check your end date first. Early exit fees of £50 to £150 can wipe out months of savings from a cheaper deal.
Not reading the new contract price rises. A cheaper headline price with higher annual increases can cost more over the contract period than a slightly more expensive deal with smaller rises. Read the small print on what to check before signing a broadband contract.
Ignoring availability. Signing up for a deal only to find it's not available at your address delays everything. Check first at broadbandcompareuk.com/compare.
Forgetting the router return. Missing the returns deadline costs money. Put a reminder in your calendar the day your new router arrives.