The Airband Guide to Switching Broadband Providers
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We all know the feeling – your current broadband provider isn’t delivering, and it’s time to move on. But switching broadband providers is a hassle… right?
Not with Airband.
We’ve made switching to Airband as simple as can be.
Have questions? We’ve gathered a list of the most common concerns when changing broadband providers, and explained exactly how to get around them.
10 problems you might face when you switch broadband provider
1. Cancellation fees
If you want to leave your current provider before your contract ends, you may have to pay some kind of termination fee. This varies depending on which provider you’re with, what package you were on, and how long you had left on your contract. The charges can be less than £100 but can also be upwards of £500, so it’s always good to get a quote from your current provider before you leave.
There are loopholes with this, however. If you’re not experiencing the speeds or service you were promised, you may be able to leave without any extra fees at all.
To do this, you’ll need to get in contact with your ISP (internet service provider) and give them a chance to diagnose the problem. If the problem is within their network and they can’t fix it within 30 days, you are entitled to leave your contract early with no penalties.
You may also be entitled to leave if your current provider raises their prices unexpectedly, and it wasn’t agreed upon at the start of your contract.
If you’re not happy with your current ISP, but can’t get out of the early termination fee, contact the new provider you’d like to join. They may offer to pay part, or all of the exit fees for you in exchange for you signing up with them.
In fact, Airband now covers up to 6 months’ worth of early termination fees when you switch to us – plus, we give you a 30-day cooling-off period to try our service. If you’re not completely happy, you can cancel – no strings, no fees.
Learn more about switching to Airband..
2. Switching my broadband provider is too much hassle
One of the biggest myths about switching your provider is that it’s just too difficult – but this isn’t the norm.
In fact, according to Which? more than three-quarters of those who had switched said the process of signing up with a new provider was easy.
It shouldn’t take long, either.
Most switches take less than two weeks, and any downtime between the services is usually a few hours at most. However, it can sometimes take longer to switch when changing to a different technology, like upgrading from FTTC to FTTP.
You can find out what kind of technology your current connection is on in our blog post, FTTC vs FTTP.
Rest assured; most internet service providers will keep you in the loop to let you know when you’re ready to be installed.
Are you wondering how to choose the right provider for you? Check out our handy guide on how to choose an ISP.
3. A new line needs to be installed
Moving to a new property and finding there’s no existing broadband or phone line can be a big pain, but don’t worry – getting a new line installed should be fast and affordable.
When you change broadband technology, you’ll need to have a new connection installed. For example, if you’re upgrading from FTTC (fibre-to-the-cabinet) to FTTP (fibre-to-the-premises) broadband.
In this case, you’ll order your contract with your new provider, and they’ll arrange a date for an engineer to come out and connect you. The time this takes can vary depending on the technology and where your home is in relation to their network, as these factors affect how easy it will be to connect you.
You may have to pay a small fee for this. Att Airband, however, we’ll install your broadband for free.
Learn more about switching to Airband.
4. I haven’t found a better deal
If you’re happy with the price you’re paying, or you can’t see anything cheaper online, consider contacting other providers in your area.
Many providers will offer a better deal to win your business – sometimes all you have to do is ask. And while price matters, it’s also worth weighing up whether spending a little more each month could mean a big upgrade in speed and reliability. After all, great broadband is about more than just the cheapest price.
At Airband, we prioritise value and performance. Our full fibre packages start at just £33/month for 150Mbps. And the price you sign up for stays that way throughout your contract. No surprise price hikes here.
5. Moving house
Before you put in an offer for your new home, do some research into what broadband is available in the area. After all, you don’t want to move into your new home, only to find that you’re going to have to live with sub-par broadband for the foreseeable future!
If your current provider serves your new area, you’ll just need to contact them to let them know that you’re planning to move. Just be prepared – there could be a small fee for doing this.
Unfortunately, if they don’t serve your new area, you might have to pay termination fees to get out of your contract early, so you can switch to a provider that can meet your needs.
Need to know if Airband is available at your new home? Just check your new postcode in our coverage tool.
6. I’m loyal to my provider
Loyalty is great – but unfortunately, it doesn’t always pay.
You may think that if you’re loyal and stay with the same provider, you’ll be rewarded and get a better deal, but this is rarely the case. In fact, most customers who stay with the same provider are paying a lot more than newer customers.
Many bigger providers also increase their contract prices every year, too – whether or not you’re in contract.
We’re not all like that, though. At Airband, we look after our loyal customers. That’s why the price you sign up for will be the same price for the duration of your contract.
Have a look at our broadband packages.
7. The provider I want isn’t available in my area
Do you really like the sound of a certain provider, but they don’t serve your area? Unfortunately, if they’re not yet in your region, there’s not a lot you can do – other than keep an eye out for future expansion. However, you might be able to find just as good of a deal with someone else, so make sure you do your research.
If you’re holding out for fibre, but it isn’t available in your area yet, we know how frustrating that can be. But you don’t have to put your broadband plans on hold – with Airband’s Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service, you could get fast, reliable internet right now.
Our FWA technology is designed to connect rural and hard-to-reach communities without the need to dig up roads for fibre – meaning you can start enjoying better speeds sooner. And as we continue to expand our network, we’re helping more households and businesses get connected every day.
Use our coverage checker to see if FWA is available in your area. If not, register your interest, and we’ll keep you updated as we grow.
8. I’m afraid I’ll get lower speeds
Some people are afraid of switching because they’re happy with the speeds they’re currently getting, and don’t want to risk lower speeds by changing providers. We’re here to reassure you that the vast majority of the time, your internet speed will be the same (or better) than what you were getting before.
When you sign up for a new broadband supplier, they should give you a guaranteed minimum speed for your property. If they fail to meet this, you’re contractually allowed to leave with no penalties.
In fact, many providers use the same Openreach network, so the differences in speeds should be minimal as it is the same line you were on before, you’re just changing who’s responsible for it.
However, at Airband we’ve built our own network, made entirely from fibre optic cables, rather than connecting to copper telephone lines. This means faster, more reliable internet, around the clock.
You can take a look at our fibre broadband packages and deals here:
9. I don’t want to lose my email account or address
Have you got an email address with your current provider that you don’t want to give up? Some providers such as Sky will let you continue to use your email address after you leave, but the bad news is that others like BT will charge a fee for you to keep using it, or they won’t allow you to use it at all.
If your email is tied to your current provider, now’s the time to make a clean break. Switching to a free provider like Gmail or Outlook future-proofs your inbox.
When you know you want to switch, you should start transferring all of your accounts over to this email address, so that when you do leave your provider, you won’t be locked out of anything.
You can (and should!) also set up email forwarding so that any future emails to that address will be redirected to your new one.
10. Switching will leave me without internet for a while
With Airband, the changeover is smooth and fast. There are temporary options if needed – such as a temporary 4G connection – so you can remain online while you’re waiting to be set up on your new service..
What happens when you switch internet providers?
Your new provider will contact you to let you know when your switch is going to happen, and tell you about your estimated speeds. Be sure to ask any other questions you may have when switching too.
At Airband, we make the entire process as easy as possible. Once you’ve placed your order, we’ll guide you through every step – from confirming your installation date to getting you set up with your new service. If you’re eligible, we’ll also activate the One Touch Switch process, to manage the handover from your old provider.
Do I need to cancel my current broadband before switching?
No, you don’t need to cancel your current broadband before switching. We recommend contacting your current supplier once you’re set-up with Airband, to ensure there’s no gaps in service.
How long does it take to move broadband to a new address?
It typically takes about two weeks to get broadband up and running at a new address, but as we’ve said, this can vary depending on what type of broadband you’re getting. If there’s already a broadband line in the home, it could be as simple as plugging in your router and signing up with your new provider.
At Airband we do everything we can to make your move as seamless as possible. Whether you’re transferring your existing service, or starting fresh with full fibre, our team will keep you updated throughout and arrange installation at a time that suits you.
The Airband advantage
Why choose Airband? 5 Reasons to choose your next broadband deal with us
- We are the UK’s biggest non-urban network and provide coverage in rural areas that other providers don’t.
- We use future-proof fibre broadband technology, meaning that your connection will still be great in 10 years’ time.
- We offer ultrafast speeds and an uncontended service, meaning you won’t share your connection with anyone else.
- We never increase prices while in contract, unlike other major providers who raise their prices regularly.
- When you sign up for a connection with us, you’ll have no obligation to have a landline, since we don’t use copper telephone wires for your connection.
Find out more: Do you need a phone line to get broadband?
At Airband, we know just how frustrating unreliable broadband can be – and we genuinely care about getting it right for every customer. That’s why we go the extra mile to deliver a connection you can count on, with great value and ultrafast speeds.
Why not benefit from the full Airband Advantage? Use our coverage checker to see if you’re in store for ultrafast speeds up to 900Mbps or learn more about switching to Airband
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