How to switch to an altnet: One Touch Switch, timelines and install day

Switching broadband used to involve awkward calls to a retention department. Since One Touch Switch arrived, the process is genuinely simple: you contact only the provider you're joining, and the industry machinery handles the rest. Here's the whole journey, start to finish.

Step 1: find out what's at your address

Altnet coverage is street-level, so start with an address check rather than a brand. Our checker shows every altnet live at your postcode with current pricing. If you're choosing between networks, the provider profiles compare price-rise policies and contract terms, which matter more over two years than a pound or two on the headline rate.

Step 2: check your current contract

Text your provider's contract-check line or look in their app for your end date. Out of contract: switch freely, and know you're currently paying their worst rate. In contract: early termination fees are typically the remaining months at a reduced rate. Sometimes the altnet saving outweighs the fee; do the arithmetic before assuming you're stuck.

Step 3: place the order, and only that

Order with the new provider. Under One Touch Switch, if you're moving between providers, your new provider notifies your old one; your old provider must send you a summary of any exit fees and the impact on bundled services, but they cannot block the switch and you don't need to call them. Your old contract ends automatically when the new service starts, so you're not paying twice.

One nuance for altnet switches: because you're moving to a different physical network, your old service doesn't technically transfer, it's replaced. The practical effect is the same, and the good news is your old connection keeps working right up until the new one is live.

Step 4: installation day

A new fibre line means an engineer visit, usually one appointment of one to three hours. They'll run fibre from the network in your street to a small box (an ONT) on an inside wall, connect the router, and test the line before leaving. You choose where the box goes, within reason; think about where you actually use the internet. Setup fees on the altnets we track are almost universally free.

Step 5: numbers, email and the tidy-up

Keeping a landline number? Tell the new provider at order stage so it ports rather than lapses. Using a provider email address? Check your old provider's policy before the account closes. Return the old router if the provider asks; some charge for unreturned kit.

Timelines

From order to live service is typically one to three weeks, driven mostly by engineer availability. If your old contract has months to run, most altnets let you book an install aligned to your contract end date, so you can set the whole thing up in advance and never think about it again.

Wondering whether the destination is worth it? Start with what actually makes altnets different, or if you're ready, check your address now.

Frequently asked questions

Does One Touch Switch cover altnets?

Yes. One Touch Switch covers switches between broadband providers regardless of the underlying network, including moves from Openreach-based providers to altnets.

Will switching affect my credit score?

Ending a broadband contract properly doesn't harm your credit. At most, a new provider may run a soft check at signup, which is invisible to other lenders.

Can I switch if I rent?

Yes, though a full fibre install involves a small box on the wall, so landlord permission is technically needed for the drilling. In practice this is rarely refused; installs are tidy and add value to the property.