Original article ISPreview UK:Read More
The One Touch Switching Company, which is the industry-led organisation responsible for helping to implement Ofcom’s solution (One Touch Switching) for easier UK consumer switching between broadband providers, has begun the ISP onboarding process for its complementary business switching solution.
The OTS system is a Gaining Provider Led (GPL) process that is focused on consumer services, where the customer contacts their new (“gaining“) ISP to start and manage the process on their behalf. But this process is, technically, only a requirement for residential customers and business connections have tended to be treated differently.
The UK telecoms regulator has previously stated that this is because “business and residential customers can sometimes have different needs when switching and that there is diversity among business which means it may not be appropriate to specify certain rules that would apply to all business customers in the same way as to residential customers.”
Despite the above statement, business providers are still required to follow most of the same OTS rules (i.e. Ofcom simply have not specified what the process should be for such ISPs) and so, in practice, TOTSCo recognises that many business ISPs may see a benefit in using a modified version of their platform to deliver a biz switching solution. But there is no requirement for business providers to use TOTSCo’s forthcoming solution (business switching is a competitive market, so there may be alternatives).
The development of TOTSCo’s business switching solution, which is occurring alongside the separate Gaining Provider Led Business (GPLB) Switching Industry Process, has been underway for a while and this week began the onboarding process (i.e. inviting ISPs to sign-up for and help test the new service). But the business switching service itself isn’t currently expected to go fully live until “early 2026“.
Paul Bradbury, CEO of TOTSCo, said:
“I’m delighted to announce that we are opening the onboarding process for business switching. Thanks to all involved across industry and at TOTSCo and our technical partner, Tech Mahindra for the hard work involved in getting us to this stage.
From [today], we’ll be sharing the Business Switching User Guide to support you through each step. Whether you’re a Communications Provider connecting directly or if you choose to connect via a Managed Access Provider (MAP), the guide will walk you through what to do to onboard your brand and prepare for testing.
So, keep an eye out for the bulletin [today] — it will include everything you need to get started.”
Just to be clear, TOTSCo said business switching is operating in a separate environment to ensure the consumer-focused OTS service “remains protected and unaffected“. Speaking of consumer switching, TOTSCo noted how nearly 1.3 million successful broadband switches have been completed since the service first went live in September 2024.
In related news, TOTSCo recently proposed to continue with its current charging structure (here).