Ofcom 'needs to up its game' on broadband switching

The news that Ofcom is looking at the issue of switching broadband providers is to be welcomed, but there needs to be "more effort put in" to help businesses and households, according to one analyst.

Edd Dawson of Broadband.co.uk said the process for changing internet services is still "very convoluted", particularly in cases where a customer wants to move between companies with their own equipment.

He added that in some cases, signing up to a different supplier can involve "several weeks" of delays and a lot of extra costs, such as installing a new phone line.

"There needs to be some guidelines that all the providers are made to adhere to and restrictions to the practices that some providers are forcing on people," Mr Dawson argued.

His comments come after research by comparison service Broadbandchoices.co.uk showed 62 per cent of customers who switch internet providers need a Migration Authorisation Code from their existing supplier to make the change.

Around 64 per cent of these have to wait up to a week to get it and 59 per cent experience loss of their connection for a "significant time" during the transition.

Earlier this week, culture and communications minister Ed Vaizey said Ofcom is expected to publish recommendations for simplifying and improving the switching process by the end of the year.