What Is Easy Switch?
Easy Switch is the legally mandated procedure that makes switching broadband or TV provider in Belgium substantially easier. Instead of cancelling your old contract yourself (and risking a service gap or double billing), your new operator takes over that step. You only pass on your Easy Switch ID, a unique code already in your file, and the rest happens automatically.
The procedure was introduced on 1 July 2017 on the initiative of the BIPT (the Belgian telecom regulator). Since then, every Belgian telecom operator is required to offer it, free of charge and without hidden costs.
Introduced
1 July 2017
Mandated by the BIPT
Your Time
~5 min
during the new-order flow
Max. Notice
2 days
after operator-to-operator contact
Cost to You
Free
legally mandated free service
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How Does Easy Switch Work in Four Steps?
The whole procedure takes no more than five minutes of your time during the new-order flow. Behind the scenes, things unfold as follows.
You choose a new operator
First, compare offers and providers. Then place the order of your choice online, in store or over the phone.
You activate Easy Switch
During the order flow you tick the Easy Switch option. You provide your Easy Switch ID, your customer number with the old operator and the desired switch date.
The operators sort it out
Your new operator contacts the old one through a secure database. Within two working days the old operator confirms the cancellation.
Installation and activation
An engineer may come over for the installation (modem, decoder). Only once your new services work are the old ones stopped, so you never lose connectivity.
Good to know
If the old and new operator share the same network (for example a switch from Scarlet to Proximus, both on the Proximus network), a brief interruption can occur because the same line needs to be reconfigured. For most switches between different networks there is no downtime.
When Can You (Not) Use Easy Switch?
Easy Switch is broad but does not cover every situation. The two scenarios side by side.
Possible
- Switching broadband provider (standalone or bundled)
- Switching TV provider (standalone or bundled)
- Moving a bundle that includes broadband or TV, along with mobile or fixed-line telephony
- Private customers (not business contracts)
- Moving to a new address while also changing operator
Not Possible
- Mobile-only switch (use number portability through your new operator instead)
- Moving home while staying with the same provider
- Moving abroad
- Consolidating multiple providers into a single bundle
- Business plans (SME, registered company)
What Is the Easy Switch ID and Where Do You Find It?
The Easy Switch ID is a unique alphanumeric code linked to your broadband or TV plan with your current operator. A single wrong character on hand-over and the entire switch procedure stalls. Three places to look:
Location 1
On Your Invoice
On the first page of every monthly invoice, in the personal-details block, often next to or just below your customer number.
Location 2
In Your Customer Portal
In the online customer area (web or app) of your operator, under My account, Profile or a similar section.
Location 3
In Your Welcome Letter
In the email or letter you received when you became a customer, provided that you signed up after 1 July 2017.
Cannot find it anywhere? Contact your current operator by chat, email or phone. The Easy Switch ID is legally required to appear on every invoice, so any agent can look it up in your file.
Things to Check Before You Start Easy Switch
Three items to verify before confirming the switch. Skip any of them and the final bill may surprise you.
- Check the term of your current contract. If you signed a fixed-term contract and are still in the first six months, an early-termination fee equal to the remaining monthly fees applies. After six months you can cancel free of charge, even on a fixed-term contract
- Check any device repayment. If you bought a smartphone on instalments through your mobile bundle, the outstanding residual value remains due on early cancellation. The repayment table is in the annex to your contract
- Plan the return of any loan hardware. Your modem, Wi-Fi router and TV decoder are usually on loan; your old operator wants them back. Your new operator does not handle that for you. Keep the proof of return
Tip: when in doubt, ask your old operator for a written overview of your outstanding commitments before confirming the switch.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Easy Switch
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Easy Switch is an administrative procedure that makes changing your broadband or TV provider in Belgium much simpler. Your new operator cancels your old contract on your behalf, so you do not have to make any calls or send letters yourself. The procedure has been mandatory in Belgian telecom law since 1 July 2017, on the initiative of the BIPT.
For you: five minutes during the new-order flow. Behind the scenes: a maximum of two working days for your new operator to cancel the old contract, plus the time needed for any installation of a new modem or decoder. Plan for one to two weeks in total between order and full switchover.
Whenever you switch, as a private customer, for at least a broadband or TV plan (optionally bundled with mobile or fixed-line telephony). For mobile-only switches Easy Switch is not needed; number portability through your new operator does the job.
Your Easy Switch ID is a unique code (letters and digits) linked to your broadband or TV plan. You can find it in three places: on your invoice (first page, in the personal-data block), in your customer portal with your provider, and in the welcome letter you received when you became a customer (if you signed up after 1 July 2017).
Contact your current operator by chat, email or phone. The Easy Switch ID is legally required to appear on every invoice, so any agent can look it up. Then pass it on to your new operator without typing errors; a single wrong character will halt the procedure.
In principle no. Easy Switch synchronises the dates so your old plan ends as soon as your new one is active. You can choose to keep a few days of overlap to avoid any interruption, in which case you do pay both providers briefly. The choice is yours at order time.
Belgian telecom law has capped early-termination fees since 2012. After six months you can cancel free of charge, even on a fixed-term contract; before six months you pay the remaining monthly fees. If you are still paying off a device (smartphone bundled with your mobile plan), the residual value of the device remains due. Check the repayment table in the annex to your contract.
Yes, and that responsibility stays with you. Your new operator only handles the administrative switch; returning loan hardware (modem, Wi-Fi router, TV decoder) to your old provider is up to you. Keep the proof of return; some operators charge a "device-not-returned" fee otherwise.
Related topics for those preparing their telecom switch