No safety net like energy's yet. Here's what protects you instead
Checked 28 October 2026
Supplier of last resort: energy has one, broadband doesn't yet
Yes
Ofgem appoints a new supplier
Your supply isn't cut off, and household credit balances are protected.
No
nobody is appointed by law
A rescue depends on a buyer being found, or on you switching.
2.5m
customers kept their service
BT bought TalkTalk out of administration on 5 October.
13 Oct
a new reason to step in
Ministers can now weigh keeping telecoms running when they review a takeover.
No, not yet. The UK has no supplier of last resort for broadband or home phone, so if your provider fails, nobody is appointed by law to take you on, the way Ofgem does for energy. In practice, administrators must try to rescue the business first, and this year G.Network and TalkTalk both kept running until a rescue came. Keep paying, save your account details, and tell your provider if anyone at home relies on a telecare alarm. You can switch whenever you choose.
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Key facts, verified 28 October 2026
- There's no supplier of last resort or special administration regime for UK broadband. Ofcom's Natalie Black said in March 2026: "We don't have a special administration regime in the UK" (quoted in the House of Lords, 27 October 2026).
- If a household energy supplier fails, Ofgem picks a new one, your supply isn't cut off and credit balances are protected (Ofgem, checked 28 October 2026).
- An administrator's first legal aim is to rescue the company as a going concern (Insolvency Act 1986, checked 28 October 2026).
- BT bought TalkTalk out of administration on 5 October 2026, and service carried on for 2.5 million customers: 1.5 million retail and 1 million wholesale (BT Group, 5 October 2026).
- G.Network went into administration in January 2026, and its business emerged debt free in March 2026 (ISPreview, 24 March 2026).
- A new order in force since 13 October 2026 lets ministers weigh keeping telecoms running when they review a takeover (legislation.gov.uk, 12 October 2026).
- The Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, told MPs her team had found "a great big gaping hole in the legislation" (Hansard, 26 October 2026).
- MPs approved the order on 27 October 2026, and it needs Lords approval by 8 November 2026 to stay in force (UK Parliament, checked 28 October 2026).
- The government told peers there is "a case for considering further powers" to protect consumers (Hansard, 27 October 2026).
- Our directory lists almost 400 active UK broadband providers and networks (BroadbandSwitch.uk, 28 October 2026).
Who this is for: anyone whose provider is in the news, TalkTalk customers, and anyone who relies on a landline or a telecare alarm, plus the families who look out for them. We've told it through Pat, who rang us after reading about TalkTalk. When her energy supplier went bust a few years ago, she was moved to a new one without lifting a finger, and she wanted to know if broadband works the same way. Pat's an example built from the calls we take, not a real customer.
What is a supplier of last resort?
Direct answer: It's a company a regulator appoints to take on customers when their supplier goes bust, so the service carries on. Household energy has one: Ofgem picks the new supplier, your supply isn't cut off, and your credit balance is protected.
You don't have to do anything when it happens. Ofgem chooses the new supplier through a bidding process, which can take up to 14 days, and the new supplier gets in touch with you about your account and any credit (Ofgem). You don't need to switch, and you don't usually need to cancel your Direct Debit.
How energy's safety net works
The supplier fails
It can't keep trading.
Ofgem chooses a new one
Through a bidding process, which can take up to 14 days.
You're contacted
The new supplier writes to you about your account.
Nothing goes off
Your supply carries on, and household credit is protected.
That's the safety net Pat was thinking of. Broadband doesn't have one yet, which is what the rest of this guide is about.
Is there a supplier of last resort for broadband?
Direct answer: No. There's no broadband or home phone supplier of last resort in UK law, and no special administration regime either. If your provider fails, a rescue depends on a buyer being found, or on you switching.
Ofcom's Natalie Black said in March 2026: "We don't have a special administration regime in the UK", as peers heard on 27 October (Hansard). A special administration regime is a legal process that keeps an essential service running while a failed company is sorted out. Energy has one as a fallback. Broadband doesn't.
The day before, the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, told MPs her team had looked at every power available and found "a great big gaping hole in the legislation" (Hansard). She added that the new order "will not fill it in its entirety".
| What happens | Household energy | Broadband and home phone |
|---|---|---|
| Who finds you a new supplier? | Ofgem chooses one through a bidding process. | No one is appointed by law. A buyer has to be found, or you switch. |
| Does your service carry on? | Yes. Ofgem says your supply won't be cut off. | No law guarantees it. TalkTalk's service carried on when BT bought it in 2026. |
| Your credit balance | Protected for households. | No rule like it. You'd register a claim with the administrator. |
| Special administration regime | Yes, as a fallback. | No. Ofcom: "We don't have a special administration regime in the UK". |
| Do you need to act? | No. You're moved across automatically. | Not straight away. You can switch whenever you choose. |
| What's changing? | Already in place. | Since 13 October 2026, ministers can weigh telecoms continuity in takeovers. |
What happens to my broadband if my provider goes bust?
Direct answer: Usually, nothing you'd notice at first. Administrators must try to rescue the business, and this year G.Network and TalkTalk both kept running until a rescue came. If nobody takes your provider on, it should tell you the date your service will stop, and you'd switch.
The law tells administrators to try to rescue the company as a going concern before anything else. An administrator is an insolvency practitioner who takes control of a company that can't pay its debts. In practice, that usually means your broadband keeps working and your bills carry on as normal.
Ofcom's own guidance says that if another company takes over, you can carry on using your services. If a provider goes out of business and nobody takes it over, your service will stop on a set date, and you shouldn't have to pay an early termination charge to leave.
What happens when a broadband provider goes bust
Step 1
It runs out of money
The company can't pay its debts.
Step 2
Administrators take over
Their first legal aim is to rescue the business.
Usually
Sold or restructured
As with TalkTalk in 2026: BT bought it and service carried on.
If no buyer
Service ends on a set date
No law appoints a new provider. You should be told the date, and you switch.
For your contract, router, phone number and email address in detail, read our guide to what happens if your broadband provider goes out of business.
What happened to TalkTalk, G.Network and the others in 2026?
Direct answer: Two were rescued and two are still in administration. BT bought TalkTalk out of administration on 5 October and service carried on for 2.5 million customers. G.Network's business came out debt free in March. Pulse Fibre and iTalk Telecom were still in administration on 28 October.
| Provider | What happened | What it meant for customers | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.Network | Into administration in January 2026. The business emerged debt free in March 2026 (reported). | The company says it kept growing during its short spell in administration. | ISPreview |
| Pulse Fibre | Moved to appoint administrators on 8 May 2026. Renamed PFL Realisations Limited. | We found no public report of what happened to customers. | Companies House |
| iTalk Telecom | Entered administration in August 2026. Appointment filed on 9 September. | See our guide for what iTalk customers should do. | Our iTalk guide |
| TalkTalk | Bought out of administration by BT Group on 5 October 2026. | Service carried on for 2.5 million customers, with TalkTalk run separately during the review. | Our TalkTalk guide |
If you're with TalkTalk, nothing changes today. BT says the two businesses will be run separately while the deal is reviewed. The Culture Secretary is weighing the Competition and Markets Authority's report, which it delivered on 19 October (CMA), and had not announced a decision when we checked on 28 October.
For the detail, read BT has bought TalkTalk: what it means for you and BT and TalkTalk: what happens next, or see our TalkTalk deals page.
What did the new law on 13 October change?
Direct answer: It gave ministers a new reason to step into a takeover: keeping telecoms services running, including for public services, critical national infrastructure and vulnerable customers. It came into force on 13 October 2026, in time for the BT and TalkTalk case. It doesn't appoint anyone if a provider fails with no buyer.
The law is a short order under the Enterprise Act, SI 2026/1075, made on 12 October and in force the next day (legislation.gov.uk). Before it, the only public interest reason that fitted the TalkTalk case was a public health emergency. The minister said that might cover telecare users, but not other vulnerable customers.
Both Houses of Parliament must approve the order by 8 November 2026 for it to stay in force. MPs approved it on 27 October. The Lords still has to approve it. Either way, it only applies when a minister steps into a merger or takeover.
October 2026: from rescue to new rules
Is the government planning a broadband supplier of last resort?
Direct answer: Not yet, though the door is open. On 27 October 2026 the government told peers there is "a case for considering further powers" to protect consumers. There's no proposal, consultation or date yet, so nothing changes for you today.
Lisa Nandy told MPs on 26 October that "we do need a new approach to regulation" (Hansard). Opposition MPs and peers pressed for a proper regime. In the Lords, Lord Fox asked the government to consult on a special administration regime for the biggest telecoms providers, and to ask Ofcom for advice on a supplier of last resort, especially for vulnerable customers and telecare users (Hansard).
It isn't a new idea. In November 2023 the Telegraph reported that regulators were drawing up plans for a broadband supplier of last resort (The Telegraph, 2023). Ofcom said then: "Usually, when a company fails, it's sold as a going concern and customers don't experience a loss of service." We'll update this page if a consultation is announced.
Who does what if a provider fails
The Culture Secretary
Decides on BT and TalkTalk, and can now weigh keeping telecoms running.
The CMA
Assessed competition and reported on 19 October 2026.
Parliament
MPs approved the new order on 27 October. The Lords must approve it by 8 November.
Ofcom
Regulates telecoms, with no special administration regime to use.
Administrators
Must try to rescue a failed provider first.
You
Can switch at any time. Tell your provider now about any telecare needs.
Why is a safety net harder to build for broadband than for energy?
Direct answer: Broadband runs over many separate networks, each with its own kit, so customers can't simply be moved in bulk the way energy accounts can. Our directory lists almost 400 active broadband providers and networks, and a safety net would have to work across all of them.
With energy, every supplier uses the same pipes and wires, so moving a customer is mostly paperwork. Broadband is different. A home on an independent full fibre network has that network's own box on the wall, the ONT (optical network terminal), and a replacement provider may not sell on that network at all.
ISPreview has pointed out that moving all of those customers in bulk could need more engineers than may exist for home visits. None of that makes a safety net impossible, but it's why one is taking longer than it did for energy.
A crowded market
Why one safety net is harder for broadband
394
Active UK broadband providers and networks in our directory.
100+
Alternative networks that have entered the market in recent years.
77%
Of homes can get more than one network.
61%
Can get more than one gigabit-capable network.
Our Data Lab report The Great Consolidation looks at how the market is changing, and Fibre Tycoon, our free game, shows why building a network costs so much.
Does the telecoms industry have its own back-up plan?
Direct answer: Yes, but a limited one. It's run through the Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator, for smaller firms reselling a bigger network's lines, mostly to businesses. It isn't law, it can end in disconnection, and it stops applying once a company is in administration.
If a reseller gets into trouble, the network it buys from is asked to make "best efforts" to keep customers connected, shield vulnerable users and keep 999 working (OTA). It's a useful backstop for business lines, but it isn't the same as a supplier of last resort for homes.
The industry's own back-up plan, stage by stage
Up to 28 days
Notice
The reseller gets time to fix the problem or find another supplier.
Up to 7 days
Final warning
The reseller gets a final warning, and Ofcom is told.
Up to 28 days
Limited service
999 still works and vulnerable users are shielded.
Then
Service ends
For anyone still with the reseller.
What if someone relies on a telecare alarm or a landline?
Direct answer: Tell your provider now, even if nothing's wrong. Providers are expected to take extra care of customers who depend on their line, and they can only do that if they know. Keep a charged mobile phone in the house, so 999 is always within reach.
The government's guidance for the move to digital phone lines lists people who use telecare, people with no mobile signal and people who rely on their landline among those who need extra care (GOV.UK, 2024). When the new law was made, ministers named medical alarms among the services at risk, and telecare users came up in both debates on it.
Check what the landline switch-off means for you
Our free checker explains what changes for landlines, care alarms and phones at your address, and what to ask your provider.
Use the landline switch-off checker →Should I switch provider now?
Direct answer: Only if you want to. Nothing in the news means you need to move today. If you're out of contract, or your provider's in trouble and you'd rather not wait, One Touch Switch means you only contact your new provider, and it does the rest.
One Touch Switch has worked between different networks since 12 September 2024 (Ofcom). Ofcom says any loss of service when you switch must not last longer than one working day (Ofcom). While your provider carries on, your normal contract terms apply, so check for an exit fee first.
If your provider gets into trouble: what to do
Keep paying as normal
Your contract carries on, and so does your service.
Save your details
Account number, landline number and contract end date, in your phone or on paper.
Keep the router plugged in
Don't send kit back until you're told how and where.
Keep every letter and email
From your provider or the administrators, in case you need them later.
Don't cancel your direct debit first
Switch to a new provider, then let the old account close.
Don't pay a caller on trust
Scammers follow the news. Check any request using the contact details on the official notice.
For a full walk-through, read how One Touch Switch works, or browse the switching hub.
What should I do now?
Today: save your details
Put your account number, landline number and contract end date in your phone. If anyone at home relies on a telecare alarm, tell your provider.
This week: protect the things that move with you
If you use your provider's email address, set up a free independent one. Here's how to keep your email when switching.
When you're ready: compare
Compare deals for your address. If you decide to move, One Touch Switch means your new provider does the work.
See what you could switch to
Compare every deal for your address, side by side, and let your new provider handle the move.
- ✓Every deal for your address, side by side
- ✓Full contract cost, including set price rises
- ✓Your new provider handles the switch
In summary
- There's no broadband supplier of last resort in the UK yet, and no special administration regime.
- If your provider fails, administrators must try to rescue it first. In 2026, G.Network's business came out debt free and BT bought TalkTalk.
- The order in force since 13 October 2026 lets ministers weigh keeping telecoms running in takeovers, but it doesn't appoint anyone if a provider fails with no buyer.
- The government says there's "a case for considering further powers". There's no plan or date yet.
- Keep paying, save your details, flag telecare needs, and remember you can switch whenever you choose.
Alex's closing thought
Nobody likes reading that providers are going bust, and the first question people ask us is always the same: will my internet go off? The honest answer this year has been reassuring. The two cases that have been settled both ended in a rescue, not a switch-off. What's still missing is a rulebook for the day there's no buyer, and it's good to see Parliament now asking for one. Until then, keep paying, save your details, and remember you can move whenever you like. If you'd like someone to talk it through with, ring us. That's what we're here for.
Keep going: the guides behind this post
If your provider is in trouble
TalkTalk and BT
Know someone worried about their provider?
Send them this. It answers the first questions everyone asks.
Cite this page
You're welcome to quote or link to this guide. Please credit BroadbandSwitch.uk and link to this page.
In a sentence: the UK has no broadband supplier of last resort, and while a law in force since 13 October 2026 lets ministers weigh telecoms continuity in takeovers, nothing yet appoints a new provider if one fails and no buyer is found.
Martin-Smith, A. J. (2026, October 28). Is there a UK broadband supplier of last resort? Not yet. BroadbandSwitch.uk. https://broadbandswitch.uk/insights/broadband-supplier-of-last-resort/
Frequently asked questions
What is a supplier of last resort?
A supplier of last resort is a company a regulator appoints to take on customers when their supplier goes bust, so the service carries on. In household energy, Ofgem picks the new supplier, your supply is not cut off and your credit balance stays protected. Broadband and home phone have no supplier of last resort in law.
Does Ofcom appoint a new broadband provider if mine goes bust?
No. There is no scheme that lets Ofcom appoint a replacement provider the way Ofgem does for energy. Ofcom's Natalie Black said in March 2026 that the UK has no special administration regime for telecoms. In practice, administrators look for a buyer, and you can switch to another provider yourself at any time.
Will my broadband stop if my provider goes into administration?
It didn't for G.Network or TalkTalk this year. The law tells administrators to try to rescue a company as a going concern first, and both kept running until a rescue was found. No law guarantees your service carries on, though, so it pays to know how to switch.
Do I need to do anything if my provider goes into administration?
You don't need to rush. Read any emails or letters from the provider or its administrators, keep your account number and landline number handy, and tell them if anyone at home relies on a telecare alarm. If you would rather leave, you can switch with One Touch Switch by contacting your new provider.
Can I switch away from a provider that is in administration?
Usually, yes. With One Touch Switch you only contact the provider you are moving to, and it arranges the switch. Check whether your contract has an exit fee first. Our guide to what happens if your broadband provider goes out of business explains your contract, equipment and email address in detail.
What is SI 2026/1075?
It is The Enterprise Act 2002 (Specification of Additional Section 58 Consideration) Order 2026. It came into force on 13 October 2026 and lets the Culture Secretary weigh the continuity of telecoms services, including supply to vulnerable customers, when she intervenes in a merger. MPs approved it on 27 October 2026, and it needs Lords approval by 8 November 2026 to stay in force.
Does the new law create a broadband supplier of last resort?
No. It only applies when a minister intervenes in a merger or takeover. It does not appoint anyone to take on customers if a provider fails and no buyer appears. Lisa Nandy told MPs on 26 October 2026 that the order will not fill the gap in the law in its entirety.
Does the new law mean BT's takeover of TalkTalk is approved?
No. As at 28 October 2026 the Culture Secretary had not announced a decision. She is weighing the CMA's report, delivered on 19 October, alongside the public interest, and can refer the deal for a deeper investigation or clear it. She told MPs the outcome has not been decided in advance.
When will the decision on BT and TalkTalk be made?
Lisa Nandy told MPs on 26 October 2026 that she would read the CMA's report and her officials' advice later that week and decide as quickly as possible. The government told peers on 27 October that a non-confidential version of the CMA's report will be published once she has decided. We will update this page when the decision is announced.
Will 999 calls still work if a broadband provider fails?
The industry's own supplier of last resort process keeps outgoing calls to 999, 112 and 18000 working while a failing reseller's service is limited, and aims to shield vulnerable customers. It is an industry process rather than a law, it is built mainly for business resellers and it stops applying once a provider enters administration, so keeping a charged mobile phone as a backup is sensible.
I rely on a telecare alarm. What should I do?
Tell your broadband and phone provider now, even if nothing is wrong. Government guidance says providers should identify customers who use telecare, and that customers must be given the chance to say they need extra support. It takes a few minutes and puts your needs on record.
Where can I get help?
Call BroadbandSwitch.uk on 0330 122 1223, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or email hello@searchswitchsave.com. We can talk you through your options and compare deals at your postcode. If you have a complaint about your provider, our complaints and your rights guide explains how to take it further.
References
- BroadbandSwitch.uk. (2026). UK broadband market directory 2026. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://broadbandswitch.uk/broadband-providers.php
- BT Group. (2026, October 5). BT Group has acquired TalkTalk and PlatformX ensuring continuity of service for millions of customers [Press release]. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://newsroom.bt.com/bt-group-has-acquired-talktalk-and-platformx-ensuring-continuity-of-service-for-millions-of-customers/
- Companies House. (2026). ITALK AFFILIATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LTD (06403147): Filing history. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06403147/filing-history
- Companies House. (2026). PFL REALISATIONS LIMITED (formerly Pulse Fibre Limited) (13873355). Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13873355
- Competition and Markets Authority. (2026). BT / TalkTalk merger inquiry. GOV.UK. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/bt-slash-talktalk-merger-inquiry
- Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. (2024, November 18). Supported journeys: Defining vulnerability during the PSTN migration. GOV.UK. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supported-journeys-defining-vulnerability-during-the-pstn-migration
- Enterprise Act 2002, c. 40, s. 124. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/40/section/124
- The Enterprise Act 2002 (Specification of Additional Section 58 Consideration) Order 2026, SI 2026/1075. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/1075/made
- House of Commons. (2026, October 26). The Enterprise Act 2002 (Specification of Additional Section 58 Consideration) Order 2026 [First Delegated Legislation Committee]. Hansard. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-10-26/debates/f91c685b-3aee-4e64-b6b4-90b617b532c4/TheEnterpriseAct2002(SpecificationOfAdditionalSection58Consideration)Order2026
- House of Lords. (2026, October 27). Enterprise Act 2002 (Specification of Additional Section 58 Consideration) Order 2026 [Grand Committee]. Hansard. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2026-10-27/debates/96DEF02B-2FE5-4CDA-BC85-06BEEC8FB1AB/EnterpriseAct2002(SpecificationOfAdditionalSection58Consideration)Order2026
- Insolvency Act 1986, c. 45, sch. B1, para. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/schedule/B1/paragraph/3
- Jackson, M. (2026, March 24). London full fibre broadband provider G.Network moves forward debt free. ISPreview. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/03/london-full-fibre-broadband-provider-g-network-moves-forward-debt-free.html
- Jackson, M. (2026, May 8). Alternative broadband network Pulse Fibre falls into administration. ISPreview. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/05/alternative-broadband-network-pulse-fibre-falls-into-administration.html
- Jackson, M. (2026, October 27). Culture Secretary pushes for statutory UK broadband supplier of last resort. ISPreview. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/10/culture-secretary-pushes-for-statutory-uk-broadband-supplier-of-last-resort.html
- Nandy, L. (2026, October 12). Continuity of supply of telecommunications services (Written statement HCWS358). UK Parliament. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-10-12/hcws358
- Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator. (2024, November 8). SOLR: Supplier of last resort, industry process (Version 4.1). Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://offta.org.uk/siteassets/ota/solr-industry-process.pdf
- Ofcom. (2024, September 12). Simpler and quicker broadband switching is here. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/switching-provider/simpler-broadband-switching-is-here
- Ofcom. (2026, February 13). What to do if your broadband or landline provider goes out of business. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/switching-provider/what-to-do-if-your-broadband-or-landline-provider-goes-out-of-business
- Ofcom. (2026, July 1). Switching broadband provider. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/switching-provider/switching-broadband-provider
- Ofgem. (n.d.). What happens if your energy supplier goes out of business. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/your-energy-supply/problems-your-energy-supply/what-happens-if-your-energy-supplier-goes-out-business
- UK Parliament. (2026). Enterprise Act 2002 (Specification of Additional Section 58 Consideration) Order 2026 [Statutory instrument procedure record]. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://api.parliament.uk/procedure/WorkPackages/8127
- Warrington, J. (2023, November 4). Broadband "supplier of last resort" talks amid debt pressure at TalkTalk and alt-nets. The Telegraph, via Yahoo Finance UK. Retrieved 28 October 2026, from https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/broadband-supplier-last-resort-talks-144049493.html