[graemep]

In the UK it is very easy to switch providers if you use a BT line. As this is a result of local loop unbundling rules that were in place before Brexit it must be the same within the EU, and other countries may have similar rules.

It is not particularly difficult to switch to providers that have their own local connections if they supply your area either (in the UK, at least).

[arielcostas]

The thing is, in many cases the provider selling internet to you isn't the same as whoever owns the cables that arrive to your place. So you may switch between providers (which in Spain are owned by 4 groups: MasOrange, Movistar/Telefónica, Vodafone and DIGI) but in many cases your IP goes through Telefónica's network (either by hiring them, or via NEBA, basically renting their infra) or MasOrange (they acquired a lot of local companies like R in Galicia, Euskaltel in the Basque Country, Telecable, and many others, including Orange) and basically own 14 brands as of now [^1].

So even if you do switch providers, chances are you are using one of the same (if not the actual same) provider, and got perhaps other options in those 4 groups. There's an actual coverage map by our Ministry for Digital Transformation[^2] that shows what actual coverage there is. Sometimes there's "Aire Networks" or others, but mostly it's the four large groups I mentioned before.

[^1]: https://masorange.es/en/brands/ [^2]: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/275e90e49dc544ef94e...

[cassianoleal]

At least in the UK, if you use a BT line as GP mentioned (via OpenReach), they provide the physical connection but anything on top of that is up to the ISP.

In OSI terms, OpenReach does layers 1 and 2, and the ISP is responsible for 3. That means your IP addresses, your IPv6 PD, etc are all on the ISP. If you change ISPs, it’s a whole new IP infra even if it uses the same OpenReach cables.

[hollow-moe]

Switching provider isn't an option, it's only a matter of time before all the actors implement this garbage, there need to be strong legal bariers. Anyone sane would think we need forbidding laws as broad, vague and expeditive as the ones they use to justify DRMs and shit so corporate won't even try to fuck around because it'd be so easy to find out.

[graemep]

> Switching provider isn't an option, it's only a matter of time before all the actors implement this garbage, there need to be strong legal bariers.

possibly, but there are UK providers who sell at a premium to users who would largely hate thi - e.g. Zen of A & A.

> Anyone sane would think we need forbidding laws as broad, vague and expeditive as the ones they use to justify DRMs and shit so corporate won't even try to fuck around because it'd be so easy to find out.

Who is going to pay for the lobbying for those !?

[cassianoleal]

I will add my current ISP Aquiss to that list. I doubt something like this would go down well with their customers. They’re not nearly as expensive as A&A either.