Vodafone find 63% of Brits put off switching broadband

A survey of 2,000 UK adults carried out by OnePoll in October 2024, on behalf of Vodafone, has found as many as 63% of UK homes are reluctant to switch broadband providers.

27% said they were afraid of losing the Internet, while 20% said switching was 'too much faff'. Yet, over half - 56% - felt 'stuck' in their contracts.

The research comes as the new One Touch Switch system goes live and the old Notification of Transfer (NoT+) switching system is decommissioned today.

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Fear of switching broadband

Vodafone's research into perceptions of broadband switching among UK residents, carried out in October 2024, found 1 in 10 people were spooked by switching.

The research found as many as 63% of those surveyed have put off switching broadband providers for the last four years.

27% said the reason for not switching was out of fear of losing their broadband connection, while 20% said the process was too difficult and 'too much faff'.

As many as 56% of households felt stuck in their broadband contract, which Vodafone said, meant they could be missing out on savings of £23 per month, based on an average bill of £47.10 minus the cost of Vodafone's Full Fibre 74 plan, which is priced at just £24 per month for new customers.

1 in 4 respondents (25%) wanted to switch broadband providers despite not doing so, with 70% saying they would if the process was easier, or if someone managed it for them (75%).

Easier switching with One Touch Switch

Vodafone's research is published as the new One Touch Switch (OTS) system goes live, which aims to make switching easier for all broadband customers across the UK.

While One Touch Switch went live on 12th September 2024, broadband providers were given a six week grace period to continue using the older Notification of Transfer (NoT+) system if they needed to.

That grace period ends today however, and so all broadband switches now need to be resolved through the OTS process.

The new system should become a major benefit for broadband customers, with OTS able to offer a gaining provider led switching service across all broadband networks.

Up until now, customers switching from one network to another, e.g. Virgin Media to BT, or Sky to TalkTalk CityFibre, would have to order broadband, then cancel their existing service themselves, something that hasn't always been easy to do.

Switching customers also had to schedule the end of their existing service, which meant it could be complicated to ensure there was little to no days without a connection.

One Touch Switch aims to resolve these issues however, creating a level playing field for all switching customers - and gaining providers.

The new OTS system allows customers of any broadband provider to simply order a new deal and the new provider will handle the complete switch, including contacting their existing provider and ending their service on the same day the new connection goes live, helping to ensure minimal downtime as well as removing any need to pay for two services at the same time.

Rob Winterschladen, Consumer Director, Vodafone UK, said, "Thanks to the launch of One Touch Switch, switching to Vodafone's Full Fibre Broadband for less really is easy. All people need to do is give us a call or go online, and we'll manage the whole switching process for them."

Vodafone switching incentives

Vodafone are offering switching customers a £100 credit when they move to Vodafone whilst still in contract with another provider to help cover any early termination fees.

They also say customers can save as much as £223 by moving to Vodafone from BT, based on switching from BT's Full Fibre 2 plan to Vodafone's equivalent Full Fibre 74 plan.

Vodafone do offer some of the cheapest broadband in the UK, with prices for full fibre broadband from just £24 per month for 24 months.

Vodafone pay monthly mobile customers can also save a further £2 per month with the Vodafone Together discount for taking both mobile and broadband from the provider.

All Vodafone broadband customers now receive the WiFi 6 enabled Power Hub, but for those who want the fastest broadband, Vodafone also offer a 1.6Gbps plan in Openreach network areas, and a 2.2Gbps plan in CityFibre locations.

Read more about Vodafone broadband in our full review or compare Vodafone's deals here.