LLU Broadband Switch

Switching your cable broadband provider is relatively easy; but if you're on an LLU service it's a different story. Thousands are flocking 'back to BT', but not necessarily because they want to…

Broadband providers traditionally use cables set down by BT and pay a rental to BT for using them. Your broadband service is therefore provided by your ISP, but uses equipment owned by and rented from BT. If your broadband becomes 'unbundled', this means that your ISP has bought the equipment from BT and you no longer need to pay BT line rental on top of the broadband charges.

This is all very well if you're happy with your provider, but it can cause unforeseen problems if you wish to switch to a new company. With cable broadband, used by the majority of providers, you just need a MAC (Migration Access Code) from your current supplier. This is given to your new provider who will then use it to take over your phone line. The whole process can take as little as 4 days to complete.

But if you're with a company which has purchased its equipment and moved you onto an LLU (Local Loop Unbundling) service, the switching process suddenly becomes lengthier, more complex, and costlier. While you can still get a MAC from a LLU supplier, it may not be accepted by your new provider if they are a cable broadband company. Many cable providers won't, or can't, accept a customer directly from LLU, so you would need to switch back to a standard BT line and then go to your new provider. This is where the costs come in – it can cost up to £130 to go from LLU to a standard service with BT, then you may also be charged up to £60 connection fee by your new provider too.

Going from one LLU company to another isn't as complicated, but you'll still need a MAC from your current provider. You are somewhat restricted if you wish to stay with LLU however, as not all providers will have set this up in all areas. Depending on how much you pay with your current provider, it may be worth paying the costs involved in switching from LLU to cable.