18 December 2006

The Office of Communications (Ofcom) has announced its intention to make switching to a new broadband provider easier.

Figures released by the watchdog reveal that 11.5 million Britons now have access to broadband Internet, which is growing at a "rapid pace".

It is therefore vital for competition that consumers are able to switch services more easily - and they risk "inconvenience and distress" if this does not happen, the body claimed.

Ofcom has outlined a number of proposed alterations to the broadband industry, including a new mechanism for the release of migration authorisation codes - which would simplify the switching process.

Claudio Pollack, Ofcom's director of consumer policy, said: "Increased competition in broadband has led to falling prices and a wide variety of services.

"These new rules are intended to ensure that switching is a quick and easy process for all."

Viviane Reding, the member of the European Commission responsible for information society and media, recently told Ofcom that head-to-head competition between providers often results in higher levels of broadband uptake.

© Adfero Ltd

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