If you are already signed up to a broadband provider you can change your service by migrating, transferring your service or upgrading. Upgrading is when you increase your connection speed either with your current provider or a new provider. Contact your ADSL provider and request a change in your package (some providers may charge for this service). Your package will be upgraded with minimum down time.

On most occasions you will not be breaking your contract by upgrading. However, some providers may start your minimum term contract again when you upgrade, so it always best to check the terms of your contract first. It is now possible to upgrade directly to a new provider. In most cases you will need to migrate and the process is outlined below. Some providers may charge you an upgrade fee, but this is not generally the case. The switching process differs slightly from provider to provider. Your new provider should be motivated to guide you through any difficulties! The UK's telecommunications regular - Ofcom - is trying to make sure that switching broadband providers is easy. If you have any problems, get in touch with Ofcom. There are hundreds of ISPs and many focus on specific parts of the country.

It's worth chatting with your provider to see what it might be able to offer to keep your custom. It's worth checking the speed you're getting – you may be better off with a consistent 2Mbps than a fluctuating ADSL Max connection. IPStream – the 'old school' broadband BT Retail sold to ISPs – is being replaced by LLU services. Here, the provider installs its own hardware and sells you a connection that uses algorithms to squeeze out the maximum bandwidth it can – often at the expense of consistency. A quick visit to bt.speedchecker.com will reveal your 'true' connection rate, but this will be accurate only for any given moment – repeat the experiment. If you consistently get poor speeds and they are causing you problems, consider changing providers.

Cable to ADSL

Migrating is where you change to another broadband provider and in most cases you can also upgrade your speed at the same time. If you wish to migrate from a cable broadband service to an ADSL broadband service, you will need an active BT line, a new modem which is compatible with an ADSL connection (you cannot use your cable modem) and possibly additional equipment like a microfilter, USB connection or Ethernet connection. As BT and cable lines can run simultaneously, you will be able to keep your cable line running until your new ADSL service is activated. This will avoid any service loss during switching. It can take an average of 10 days to install an ADSL service. Your start-up package will be sent directly to your house and the connection will be directly activated by the provider.

ADSL to Cable

To migrate from ADSL broadband to cable broadband you need no extra equipment, because the cable provider will supply all the equipment that you will need to run broadband from your home computer. Your computer will need to match the stated specifications, of course. There is no direct way to switch from ADSL to cable. This type of switch uses a different type of cable running into your home, other than your phone line. This switch will not affect your phone service and you can keep your BT phone line and number.

Before migrating to cable broadband (which takes about 7 days), you must first check your current contract and cancel your connection with your current ADSL broadband provider (Telewest, for example, state that you must have had your current package for 30 days before you can make any changes. Once you have upgraded you must wait another 30 days before you can upgrade again); an engineer will come to your home and install your broadband equipment. As cable and BT lines can run simultaneously, you are able to keep your ADSL line running until your new cable broadband has been installed. This will avoid any service loss during switching.

Migrating to another ADSL provider

When you migrate to a new service provider your BT phone line will not be affected and you will keep the same phone number. You will need a standard BT ADSL connection and your individual MAC code, which you can get from your current provider. Before migrating, check the terms and conditions of your current contract. Lookout in particular for cancellation policy and charges: if you are in a 12-month contract, you may find the cancellation fee a deterrent to switching. If all is well, call your current provider and inform them that you would like to migrate to another provider, and obtain your individual MAC code, then contact your new provider and give them your MAC code and previous provider's details. Your new provider will then contact your old provider and BT to arrange the transfer of your service. There should only be down time of about 20 minutes during the transfer of service.

In conclusion

Whether you've decided to dump your existing broadband provider or you're after a fresh connection, doing your research is vital – you could easily end up tied into an unsatisfactory package. And the cheapest option may not offer the right services for your needs. Changing providers isn't as difficult as it used to be, but you're likely to be penalised for trying to swap service providers partway through a subscription. Check the charges and read through the terms and conditions before signing up – call the ISP for clarification if any of the details aren't sufficiently clear.