Ofcom is hopeful about the launch of One Touch Switch in September, and urges industry to do everything possible to meet it
TOTSCo announces a new launch date
On 12 March 2024, The One Touch Switch Company (TOTSCo) announced a new six-month deadline for the industry-wide launch of ‘One Touch Switch’ (OTS), the simplified broadband switching process first announced in September 2021. The planned go-live date of 12 September was announced after TOTSCo – the organisation responsible for overseeing implementation of the scheme – informed Ofcom last December that its target of 14 March 2024 was no longer achievable. TOTSCo has also published its “path to One Touch Switch”, which identifies different routes to go-live depending on an operator’s participation in industry trials. For those not participating, this document outlines the plan for connection to the hub before OTS goes live. Where required, TOTSCo has committed to providing extra detail throughout the process and to communicating appropriately.
Go-live in September is considered doable, but some stakeholders are not happy
TOTSco states that it is pleased to announce the revised OTS go-live date, which has been arrived at through discussions with many communications providers and other stakeholders from various parts of the industry. It believes that all parties can achieve this date. While TOTSco recognises that many providers would prefer an earlier date, it considers that this is the earliest credible date given the implementation timescales that have been communicated to it. TOTSco also hopes its announcement will focus industry minds on the steps required to implement OTS. However, several stakeholders are frustrated by successive delays to the process. Wholesale-focused altnet Netomnia has accused BT and Virgin Media O2 of dragging their feet and over-complicating proceedings, while Ofcom appears similarly unimpressed by ongoing failures. In December 2023, Ofcom wrote to BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media O2 raising concerns about the repeated delays, and to require them to urgently finalise an OTS launch date. It has now received written assurances from these four providers that the September launch date is achievable.
Ofcom urges industry to make every effort to finally launch OTS
Ofcom has also provided an update on the enforcement programme it opened after industry missed the original OTS go-live deadline of 3 April 2023. The regulator has stated that the continued delays by industry have ultimately caused customers to lose out on the benefits of a quicker and more effective switching process. Once OTS has launched, Ofcom will review the conduct of BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media O2, as well as any other providers it feels should be further scrutinised, to determine whether it is appropriate to open investigations into individual operators. In the meantime, the regulator intends to use all necessary resources and oversight to hold TOTSCo and industry to account in meeting the new 12 September 2024 deadline. Speaking at a recent industry event, Lindsey Fussell (Group Director, Networks and Communications, Ofcom) stated that the ongoing delays to implementation were a big disappointment and that industry could have done better. Though it is a complicated matter, she was hopeful about the revised deadline and urged operators to “strain every sinew” to meet it.
