Planning to Switch Home Broadband ISP in 2016? You’re Not Alone

It’s the beginning of a New Year and as such we’ve surveyed 1,200 readers to discover that 39% of respondents feel “Very Likely” to switch their Internet access provider in 2016, although in reality only a much smaller proportion will ever actually jump ship.

Respondents to the survey were also asked whether or not the quality of their current broadband provider had improved over the past year and 66.8% said “No”, while 20.1% said “Yes” and 13% were simply undecided.

Has the quality of your ISP improved over the past year?
No – 66.8%
Yes – 20.1%
Unsure – 13%

Which of these does your ISP do BEST?
Reliability – 32.3%
Price – 31.5%
Internet Speed – 24.8%
Support – 11.2%

Which of these does your ISP do WORST?
Price – 33.9%
Internet Speed – 26.1%
Support – 24.5%
Reliability – 15.3%

How likely are you to swap ISP in 2016?
Very Likely – 39%
Undecided – 30.8%
Very Unlikely – 30.1%

Not so long ago Internet speeds would have been the most complained about aspect of broadband provision by far, although the on-going improvements to our national infrastructure may slowly be helping to change that position. On the other hand the voting was quite split.

As for those respondents who plan to switch during the coming year, it’s worth remembering that many of those may simply be intending to upgrade their connection to one of the newer “superfast broadband” services. However what consumers expect they might do and what they actually end up doing are often two very different things.

Data collected for Ofcom’s Switching Tracker (consumer survey between 27th July to 25th August 2015), which has kindly been supplied to ISPreview.co.uk, found that 52% of respondents have NEVER switched fixed broadband provider and only 10% had switched in the past 12 months. Equally you’d perhaps expect that visitors to ISPreview are more likely to be considering a switch.

Meanwhile this month’s new survey asks whether you support the Government’s proposed 10Mbps broadband Universal Service Obligation (details)? Vote Here.