Broadband switching just got simpler in 2026
Changing your internet provider used to mean a fiddly phone call and a fair bit of dread. Not any more. Broadband switching in the UK works very differently now, and for most of us it comes down to one quick sign up with the provider you want.
Since a set of Ofcom rules landed in September 2024, you no longer have to ring your old supplier to cancel, or juggle two providers at once. Close to two million homes have already moved this way. Here’s how broadband switching works in 2026, how to land a cheaper deal, and what to do if anything snags.
What is One Touch Switch?
One Touch Switch is the system that lets you change broadband provider by dealing with the new one only. You sign up with whoever you want, and they sort everything out with your current supplier for you.
It became mandatory across the industry on 12 September 2024 and runs through a shared hub that the providers pay for between them. The point was simple: take the friction, and those awkward retention calls, out of broadband switching so households stop overpaying out of habit. Before the rules changed, plenty of people stayed put simply because changing felt like a faff. You can read the official rules on Ofcom’s switching pages.
Broadband switching in numbers
Figures checked July 2026, from Ofcom and industry reporting.
| What | The figure |
|---|---|
| One Touch Switch launched | 12 September 2024 |
| Switches completed in the first 18 months | Close to 2 million |
| Typical time to switch | Around 10 working days |
| Out of contract premium | Roughly £5 to £12 a month more than new customers pay |
| Households that switched in 2025 | Around 18%, up from roughly 14% in 2023 |
| Hagglers who got a better deal | Around 69% (MoneySavingExpert poll, 2026) |
How does broadband switching work now?
Broadband switching now runs through your new provider from start to finish. Most switches are done in around ten working days, and you can usually pick a date that suits you. Here’s what it looks like in practice.
- Compare deals first. Check what speeds and prices you can actually get at your address, then pick the one that suits you. It’s worth a quick look at what affects your internet speed so you don’t pay for more than you need.
- Sign up with the new provider. They kick off the switch and contact your existing supplier for you.
- Read the switching information. Before you commit, you get clear details on any early exit fee, your new price, and the switch date.
- Wait for the agreed date. Your service moves over on the day you’re told, usually with little or no downtime.
You shouldn’t have to call your old provider at all. And if your contract has already ended, there are no exit fees to pay, so this is the moment broadband switching saves you the most.
Quick switching checklist
- Check whether you’re still in contract and what any exit fee would be.
- Note your current monthly price and speed so you can compare like for like.
- Run a comparison at your postcode to see the real deals available to you.
- Have your address and account details to hand so the match goes through cleanly.
How to get a cheaper broadband deal
The biggest savings tend to go to the people who actually move. Ofcom figures suggest households that have slipped out of contract pay roughly £5 to £12 a month more than new customers, so that rolling price you drift onto is rarely the best one going. Your provider isn’t going to ring and point that out. The out of contract price is their favourite one.
More of us are getting wise to this. Ofcom found around 18 percent of households switched broadband in 2025, up from roughly 14 percent in 2023, and average prices for faster connections actually fell in real terms over the same period. Easier broadband switching is a big part of why, and it means there’s rarely a better time to check whether you’re on the right deal.
You have two routes. Switch to a new provider, which usually gets you the cheapest new customer prices, or haggle with your current one. In a 2026 MoneySavingExpert poll, around 69 percent of people who haggled walked away with a better deal, so a call to the retentions team is well worth a try. Either way, the trick is the same: know what’s on offer elsewhere first.
It helps to compare broadband deals for your postcode before you decide, so you’re negotiating, or switching, with real numbers in hand. If your provider has just pushed through a price rise, our guide to broadband price rises and your rights explains when you can walk away without penalty. How much you save depends on your current deal and how you use it, but for plenty of homes it adds up to well over a hundred pounds a year.
What if your broadband switch goes wrong?
If a switch stalls or fails, get in touch with your new provider, since they own the whole process now. Most delays come down to mismatched account details, so getting your name and address exactly right when you sign up really does help.
You’re protected, too. Under Ofcom’s rules you shouldn’t be paying two providers for the same service at once, and if a switch is delayed and it’s not your fault, compensation may apply. One more thing worth knowing: switching moves your home phone line as well, and on most modern connections your calls now run over the broadband. If you still use a traditional phone, it’s worth reading up on the landline switch off.
Ready to see what you could move to?
Frequently asked questions about broadband switching
- Do I need to contact my old broadband provider to cancel?
- No. With One Touch Switch you deal with the new provider only, and they sort out cancelling your old service for you.
- Will my broadband go down during the switch?
- Usually there’s little or no downtime. If there’s likely to be a short gap, your new provider should tell you up front.
- Can I switch broadband while I’m still in contract?
- Yes, though you might face an early exit fee. The switching information you’re shown spells out any fee before you commit, so nothing comes as a surprise.
- Does switching move my landline too?
- Yes. Your phone service moves across with the broadband, and on most modern lines your calls already run over the internet anyway.
- Is there a charge for using One Touch Switch?
- No. Switching itself is free to you. The providers cover the cost of running the system between them.
