The Ofcom proposals aim to make it easier for consumers to switch from one broadband provider to another, and to prevent so-called "slamming" - when consumers are switched without their permission.

However, the process has already taken a year longer than expected - and there's still work to be done.

In September 2010, Ofcom proposed flipping the current system, so such switches were no longer managed by the ISP the customer was moving from, but the company they were joining, in the hopes of encouraging better service. Or, in Ofcom's jargon, it suggested moving from a losing-provider led (LPL) process to a gaining-provider led (GPL) one.

Read more: Ofcom dithers over plans to tackle broadband slamming | Broadband | News | PC Pro