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In the UK, start by ordering from the broadband provider you want to join. Its One Touch Switch service should arrange the move and tell your existing provider; in most cases, you do not need to cancel the old service yourself. Before confirming, check any exit charges, bundled services, email, and equipment so the switch does not leave an unwelcome bill or something you meant to keep.
How to change broadband provider
- Check what is available at your address. Compare connection types and packages using your full address; coverage and advertised speeds vary by location. Choose the provider and package that suit your household.
- Contact the new provider and ask it to use One Touch Switch. Give it your address, current provider, and the services you want to move. The new provider will request information from the old one and, where technically possible, arrange the switch for your preferred date.
- Read the information from your existing provider before you confirm. Check any early termination charge and what will happen to other services on the account. If the new service uses a different network, ask whether you need an engineer visit, new equipment, or other setup steps.
- Follow the new provider’s setup instructions. It may supply a router or tell you what equipment is compatible. When the new service is active, reconnect your devices to Wi-Fi. Ask whether you can use your old network name and password on the new router, and set a strong Wi-Fi password.
With One Touch Switch, the old broadband service should cease automatically once the new service works. Do not separately cancel it unless the provider tells you to or you are deliberately arranging a self-managed overlap.
What to check before confirming the switch
Contract end date and exit charges
If you are still within your minimum contract period, your existing provider may charge an early termination fee. Under One Touch Switch, it must tell you about applicable charges before the switch. If the new provider offers to cover exit fees, check the conditions and limits before relying on that offer.
Notice-period billing
For a One Touch Switch, Ofcom says: “Your old provider must not charge you for any notice period after the switchover date.” This protection concerns charges after the switchover; it does not remove an early termination charge that may apply because your minimum term has not ended.
#1 Best Overall
- DUAL-BAND WIFI 6 ROUTER: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) technology achieves faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion compared to the previous gen. All WiFi routers require a separate modem. Dual-Band WiFi routers do not support the 6 GHz band.
- AX1800: Enjoy smoother and more stable streaming, gaming, downloading with 1.8 Gbps total bandwidth (up to 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz and up to 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz). Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- CONNECT MORE DEVICES: Wi-Fi 6 technology communicates more data to more devices simultaneously using revolutionary OFDMA technology
- EXTENSIVE COVERAGE: Achieve the strong, reliable WiFi coverage with Archer AX1800 as it focuses signal strength to your devices far away using Beamforming technology, 4 high-gain antennas and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset
- OUR CYBERSECURITY COMMITMENT: TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
Service continuity and compensation
Ofcom says that under the switching protections, “Any loss of service should not last longer than one working day.” This is a protection, not a promise that there will be no interruption. Providers must compensate customers in specified circumstances, including a loss of service lasting longer than one working day or a missed confirmed service or installation appointment. Ask your provider how the compensation process applies if a problem occurs.
Landline, TV, and other bundled services
Check which services are included in your current bundle and what you want to retain. A landline may move with the broadband, while a TV service may need to be cancelled separately. Confirm the consequences with both providers before placing the order if you want to keep only part of a bundle.
Rank #2
- OneMesh Compatible Router - Form a seamless WiFi when work with TP-Link OneMesh WiFi Extenders
- Next-Gen Wi-Fi 6 Technology – The Archer AX10 leverages advanced Wi-Fi 6 features like OFDMA and 1024-QAM to deliver improved efficiency across your entire network. Perfect for high-bandwidth activities like streaming, gaming, and smart home connectivity.
- Next-gen Dual Band router - 300 Mbps on 2. 4 GHz (802. 11n) plus 1201 Mbps on 5 GHz (802. 11ax)
- Connect more devices than ever before - Wi-Fi 6 technology simultaneously communicates more data to more devices using OFDMA and MU-MIMO while reducing lag dramatically
- Powerful Dual-Core 900MHz Processor – Handles multiple data streams simultaneously for reliable performance across your devices. Ensures smooth streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing without buffering or lag.
Provider-supplied email
Your email address may be affected when you leave a provider. Ask whether it can remain active after the switch. If it cannot, create a replacement address and update important accounts before moving.
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Ask whether you must return your old router and what equipment the new provider supplies. A replacement router is not automatically necessary for every switch. Before buying one, check that it is compatible with the new service and confirm whether the provider will supply equipment.
Rank #3
- NIGHTHAWK WIFI 6 ROUTER FOR YOUR WHOLE HOME: Delivers fast, reliable WiFi across every room of your apartment or small home for streaming, gaming, video calls, and smart home devices, all running at the same time without slowing each other down.
- WORKS WITH YOUR EXISTING INTERNET SERVICE: Pairs with your existing modem or gateway via ethernet. Compatible with most cable, fiber, DSL, and satellite providers. Some gateways and modem router combos may require bridge mode. No coax needed.
- SET UP AND MANAGE YOUR NETWORK WITH THE NIGHTHAWK APP: Download the free Nighthawk app on iOS or Android for guided setup. Manage WiFi, run speed tests, pause devices, and set up guest networks from anywhere. Active internet required.
- READY FOR THE DEVICES YOU ALREADY OWN: Your phones, laptops, and TVs work right out of the box. WiFi 6 delivers speeds up to 1.8 Gbps across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Backward compatible with WiFi 5 and earlier.
- COVERAGE IN EVERY ROOM: Covers up to 1,500 sq. ft. for up to 20 connected devices. Walls, floors, and interference can reduce range. Larger or multi-story homes may benefit from a NETGEAR Orbi mesh WiFi system.
Cooling-off period
Ofcom says an order may be cancelled within 14 calendar days. Its broadband-choice guidance says this applies to sign-ups online, by telephone, or at your door, and might not apply to in-store purchases. If the service has already started, you may still have to pay for service used and installation. Cancelling the new order does not automatically restore your old service.
Choosing a package that fits your household
Check address-level availability first, then compare the whole deal rather than the headline monthly price. Ofcom describes full fibre as usually faster and more reliable than part fibre for a similar price, but the actual options and terms depend on your address and package.
Rank #4
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
- Connection type and availability: confirm what is actually offered at your address.
- Speed and household use: Ofcom’s broad categories are standard, up to 30 Mbit/s, for basic browsing, email, and standard video; superfast, 30–300 Mbit/s, for common uses such as working from home, video calls, and streaming; and ultrafast, 300 Mbit/s or above, for multiple simultaneous users or data-intensive use. These are guide categories, not a guarantee that a connection will achieve its advertised speed.
- Total contract cost: include setup fees, stated in-contract price increases, and any exit charge on your current service.
- Contract length and flexibility: check the minimum term and what happens if your needs change.
- Service and bundle details: consider customer service, landline or TV consequences, and equipment requirements.
Customers receiving certain benefits may be eligible for a social tariff. Ofcom describes these tariffs as cheaper and without mid-contract price rises; check eligibility and current terms with the provider.
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When a self-managed overlap makes sense
If you want the new connection running before the old service ends, you can arrange the new installation and cancel the old service separately. This is not a One Touch Switch, so check the old provider’s notice period and charges yourself. If installation is delayed, you may pay for both services for longer than planned.
Best Value
- 𝐆𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐅𝐢 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟖𝐊 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 – Up to 5400 Mbps WiFi for faster browsing, streaming, gaming and downloading, all at the same time. Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, & obstacles such as walls.
- 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐅𝐢 𝟔 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 – Equipped with 4T4R and HE160 technologies on the 5 GHz band to enable max 4.8 Gbps ultra-fast connections.Power:12 V 2.5 A
- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 – Supports MU-MIMO and OFDMA to reduce congestion and 4X the average throughput
- 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 - Covers up to 2,000 sq. ft. High-Power FEM, 6× Antennas, Beamforming, and 4T4R structures combine to adapt WiFi coverage to perfectly fit your home and concentrate signal strength towards your devices.
- 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 – Improved vented areas help unleash the full power of the router
How common is switching?
Ofcom’s 2025 Pricing and Consumer Engagement Report says more than two million customers used One Touch Switch to move broadband and/or fixed voice between its September 2024 launch and the end of 2025. The report also says 18% of fixed broadband customers switched provider in 2025, compared with 14% in 2023. These figures measure different things: the first is the number of One Touch Switch users over a period; the second is the annual switching rate for fixed broadband. Some switches completed in as little as one day, but that is not a typical completion-time estimate.
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