If I switch broadband, will there be a break in access?

misty-mitts

We're very interested in switching to the BT deal advertised in the weekly newsletter. It would save us a packet. What is stopping us is the fear that there might be a period when we have no internet during the switchover. For all sorts of reasons, that would be a disaster for us.

Is this likely to happen? What can we do to minimise the chances of it? Any advice would be much appreciated.

JJ_Egan

Usually a couple of hours at most for fibre ADSL usually is just switched .
If it takes longer it is due to BT equipment nothing you can do .

macman

If a few hours downtime would really be a a 'disaster', then you are presumably running a business from home in which the line is mission-critical. If so, then a residential contract is not suitable for you, and you will be breaching the T&C's anyway.

misty-mitts

macman - what presumption!

Last time we switched ( a few years ago) we were without internet access for a few weeks - not a few hours.

I have physical and mental problems that mean that the internet is largely the only way I can connect with friends/family/the outside world.

elsien

I switched from talktalk to plusnet a few weeks back. Had to phone customer services because I had my own router which needed resetting, but the downtime was the hour or so it took to sort it, that's all.

kwikbreaks

If it's ADSL to ADSL or FTTC to FTTC and no LLU provider involved - eg TalkTalk or Sky in the main although some minor players also resell LLU - then there is no down time other than either swapping router or putting the new ISP connection login into the old one.

Other swaps should only be an hour or so at most while the cabling is changed at the exchange or the cabinet.

Where there can be a significant delay is if the correct ordering procedure wasn't followed and the original service was completely ceased and a new one has to be set up. Typically failure to use a MAC although that isn't always needed these days but it's always best to ask for one and see if the new provider wants it.

Swipe

On both mine and my parents switches it took as long as entering in the new login and password details and restarting the router, about 2 minutes.

molerat

When I switched from TalkTalk to Plusnet my BB was down for a few hours, the phone was pretty instant though. When I called Plusnet they said that Openreach had not informed them that they had done the physical swap so had not activated the BB, he did it whilst we were talking. When I previously switched from BT phone with Orange BB the swap was instant.

HappyMJ

I just switched (10 days ago) from Tesco ADSL to Tesco Fibre and was down for 5 days. The connection has been unreliable ever since but have been advised to wait 10 days before lodging a complaint....Tesco can expect a call tomorrow.

If internet is so critical then get a backup service provided through a mobile phone. You can tether your computer to the phone and continue as normal (but maybe without the youtube due to limits on data). Facebook and email are fine.

macman

misty-mitts wrote: »

macman - what presumption!

Last time we switched ( a few years ago) we were without internet access for a few weeks - not a few hours.

I have physical and mental problems that mean that the internet is largely the only way I can connect with friends/family/the outside world.

Thansk for the additonal info. But that is not a normal switch process-the process typically competes same day. On a normal BT line, if the service fails anyway then you would typically be waiting 5 working days for an OR engineer anyway, so nothing is guaranteed.
As the service is so crucial to you, I agree with the above post-that you have a mobile internet dongle to provide back up service should the line or broadband go down. The small risk of interrupted service shold not deter you from switching.

Oblivion

I have a very obliging neighbour whose wifi signal is quite strong here and he has always said I can log in via his router if ever I have down time. I know it's not necessarily doable by everybody but I just mention it as another possibility.