A new Ofcom report shows consumers reported fewer telephone and broadband problems over the last 12 months than they did the year before.

The industry regulator's complaints data shows that issues relating to fixed line and mobile mis-selling, silent calls, additional charges and broadband switching have become less of a cause for concern in recent times.

However, Ofcom believes that the downward trend could be linked to the recession, meaning that complaints could rise again when the economy starts to recover.

"We believe some of this latest reduction in complaints may also be due to external factors, such as fewer people moving home during the current economic downturn," Ofcom said in a statement.

"That's because problems sometimes occur when people switch their broadband and home phones as part of the moving process."

Broadband switching has also become easier in recent years thanks to the increasingly competitive deals offered by broadband ISPs, Ofcom has noted, with the introduction of Migration Authorisation Codes also cited as a reason behind the fall in complaints.