The UK regulator marked the second anniversary of the introduction of One Touch Switch by sharing that nearly 3.5 million people have used it since its launch.
That suggests that usage is on the up; this time last year Ofcom reported that 1.6 million people in the UK had used the system to date.
But aside from taking the opportunity to pat itself on the back for simplifying switching – and we'll gloss over the fact that One Touch Switch took years to come into being, with operators not all keen to play ball – the regulator is keen to push the switching message further.
It shared the results of some recent analysis that showed "many" triple-play customers could save £100 per year by changing supplier.
Citing its own pricing trends report for 2025, Ofcom disclosed that out-of-contract customers taking a fixed line, broadband and pay TV service from the same provider paid an average of £78 per month for their bundle, while those still in contract were billed at an average of £69 per month. And to illustrate that we're not just talking about a handful of households, it pointed out that a third of triple-play customers were out of contract last year.
Lest it enrage the telcos with the implication that they are perhaps not giving customers as good a deal as they could, Ofcom said its data "shows that communications services are affordable for most people."
However, these are difficult times from an economic perspective. 4% of telecoms customers missed a payment last quarter as people continue to struggle with the rising cost of living, it said. Its Affordability Tracker, published in May, also indicated that 12% made changes to a service, 10% reduced their spend elsewhere, and 7% cancelled a service in order to keep finances in check.
"We know that many people feel worried about their bills creeping up over the next few months, but with a few simple steps some customers could achieve big savings," said Natalie Black, Group Director, Infrastructure and Connectivity, at Ofcom.
“Our advice to everyone with a broadband, mobile, pay-TV or landline contract is to check whether you're in or out of contract, compare the offers out there, and if right for you then switch and save."
Ofcom has launched a new tool to help consumers do just that. Its switching data drop coincides with the introduction of its Consumer Hub, an online resource that includes money-saving tips, help with common service problems and details of the ways customers can complain when things don't go to plan.
And, of course, the hub gives advice on how to switch provider, using the One Touch Switch system. Essentially, One Touch means customers only need to interact with their new provider and not the one they are leaving, which streamlines the process.
Doubtless Ofcom will be back this time next year to update us on One Touch Switch usage. That 3.5 million figure in isolation is a little redundant given that we don't know how many UK consumers switched provider each before the system was introduced. But we can at least gain some insight into whether or not switching is a growing phenomenon.
Source: https://www.telecoms.com/regulation/ofcom-recommends-more-people-switch-broadband-provider
