18 August 2006
Ofcom has proposed a number of changes to regulation which will make it easier for broadband customers to transfer between different providers.
Following an announcement by Ofcom in April this year that it would examine the effectiveness of the processes which allow customers to sign up and switch between broadband providers, a new set of regulations have been published.
The telecoms watchdog found that while in the main the processes were effective there are a number of areas requiring change.
One problem area which was exposed was from customers who found it difficult to obtain a Migration Authorisation Code (MAC) from their current supplier. A MAC is a pre-requisite for changing broadband providers and without it many consumers found themselves with a service while the switch went through.
As a result Ofcom has proposed new regulation meaning all providers of telecommunications services will have to provide a MAC as standard to all customers.
Another area Ofcom has resolved to fix is the problem for consumers who have moved home and tried to order a new broadband service but have been unable to do so as there is already a broadband connection on that line.
The deadline for the Ofcom proposals is October 5th 2006.
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