Broadband switching in the UK rose 24% year on year in March, according to data from Uswitch, as April bill increases prompted more households to shop around.

One in five broadband customers either switched provider before the rises or planned to do so within the next three months. Three million households had already changed provider in time to avoid higher charges.

The figures suggest a sharp consumer response to increases across several essential services at once. Households faced an average annual rise of £216 across council tax, water, TV licences, mobile contracts and broadband, bringing the total national increase to £6.9 billion.

Broadband accounted for an average increase of £39.60 a year, based on a monthly rise of £3.30. Some customers faced fixed increases of £4 a month, adding £48 over a full year.

Cost pressure

Affordability is now a central factor in broadband buying decisions. Some 24% of broadband customers chose their current provider primarily because it offered the lowest monthly price.

That pressure has coincided with stronger competition, particularly from regional network operators. These providers have offered some of the strongest broadband deals on record, including tariffs that in some cases avoid annual in-contract price rises, prompting larger providers to improve their own offers.

Uswitch’s internal data showed March was the busiest month for broadband switching since its records began in October 2016. Its measure of broadband deal value also reached its highest level since the index began in August 2023.

Not all customers moved quickly. Some 39% of broadband bill payers knew their bill was going up but did not plan to act, leaving them exposed to the full increase.

Market shift

The pattern suggests a widening gap between households willing to switch and those staying on existing contracts despite higher costs. Customers who stay with the same provider after their contract ends often move on to more expensive terms, while rival offers for new customers can be materially cheaper.

A household reaching the end of a broadband contract could save an average of £329 a year by taking a new deal. That adds to evidence that bill rises are prompting more active shopping around in a market where price has become a stronger differentiator.

Some of the biggest broadband brands have adopted fixed annual uplifts for new customers rather than the inflation-linked formulas criticised in previous years. While that offers more certainty, it still means higher charges each April for customers who remain in contract.

Regional providers have used that backdrop to compete on price and on promises of no annual rise. The result is a more competitive market at a time when household budgets are under strain from multiple directions.

Ernest Doku, broadband expert at Uswitch, said: “By moving in record numbers this year, broadband customers are sending a clear message that they will not pay over the odds while budgets are already under such intense pressure.

“What we are seeing is a significant shift in the market. The expansion of regional networks – both aggressively priced and keenly focused on customer service – has created a level of competition that hasn’t been seen in years.

“These providers are offering high speeds and great reliability on their networks at much lower price points, which is finally forcing the bigger brands to offer much more to keep their customers.

“If you have faced a price rise this April, it is not too late to check your contract. With the market as competitive as it is right now, there is a real opportunity to find a deal that protects your household budget.

“The average household coming to the end of their contract could save £329 a year by switching to a new deal, so it really pays to see what else is out there.”

The hotel has reported its busiest period for canine stays, driven by rising staycation demand and warmer seasonal weather.

This trend is expected to continue, with April through to August proving especially popular for dog-owning families, aligning with school holidays, longer daylight hours and increased leisure travel across the UK.

Easter weekend stood out as the peak period for dog stays, where the hotel welcomed a 50 per cent increase in four-legged guests.

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Fine weather helped create a relaxed, outdoor-focused atmosphere, with over 20 dogs making full use of the hotel’s gardens, riverside setting and expansive grounds, over Easter

 The strong performance reflects a wider staycation boom, as more travellers choose to holiday closer to home.

One pooch at the hotel restaurant (Image: Voco Oxford Thames)

 Set within 30 acres of scenic parkland on the banks of the River Thames, Voco Oxford Thames is ideally positioned as a base for exploring the southern Cotswolds.

 The hotel is also seeing growing demand for dogs to be included in wedding celebrations. The properties regularly accommodate canine companions of wedding couples, adding a personal and memorable touch to special occasions.

Logesh Waran, hotel manager at voco Oxford Thames, said: “We’re seeing a clear rise in guests choosing to travel with their dogs, particularly during peak leisure periods.

“Our spaces, grounds and pet-friendly rooms and dining areas make it easy for owners to include their pets in the full travel experience. From weekend breaks to weddings, dogs are always welcome!”

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 Dog-friendly rooms at the hotel offer patio access, allowing guests easy access to outdoor spaces – an amenity that has proven especially popular with pet owners.

 Guests are also taking advantage of nearby attractions including Bicester Village for premium outlet shopping, as well as Blenheim Palace and the historic town of Woodstock, both offering a rich mix of cultural, heritage and leisure experiences.

Pet Owners could book a Pet Getaway package or just book room only with small charge per pet.

The hotel, located in Sandford on Thames, dates to the Middle Ages and boasts a leisure club, spa, restaurant.

After the COVID-19 pandemic drove an increase in the number of dog friendly households, pet tourism has only surged.

Research from the University of Surrey suggests the potential that the dog-friendly travel market will be worth $50.1 billion by 2030.

Another report from Roch Dog, a certification body for dog friendly hotels, states that hotels that welcome dogs are likely to experience 15 to 20 per cent higher occupancy rates than those that don’t.

Hotels in the Cotswold’s like Bowden Hall Hotel, The Lygon Arms Hotel, and The Swan Hotel are all highlighted on Tripadvisor as excellent dog friendly hotels.

OVHcloud has added Quandela’s Belenos quantum computer to its quantum platform, making it the second quantum computer available through the cloud-based service.

Belenos uses photonic quantum technology and offers 12 qubits, according to the companies. It joins a platform that also includes 15 quantum emulators for users testing and learning different quantum computing models.

The addition expands OVHcloud’s Quantum-as-a-Service offering, which gives customers pay-as-you-go access to quantum systems. Billing for the Belenos quantum processing unit is charged by the second, with no commitment required.

OVHcloud launched the platform last autumn as part of a broader effort to widen access to quantum computing tools for businesses and researchers. The service is designed to let users experiment with algorithms and assess potential applications without running their own quantum hardware.

Quandela said Belenos could be used in areas including image sorting and generation, accelerated AI calculus and quantum machine learning. The companies also highlighted potential applications in electromagnetic simulation, structural mechanics, engine combustion, material simulation, meteorology and earth observation.

The launch adds another European-made system to a market where access to quantum hardware remains limited and is often concentrated among a small number of specialist providers. OVHcloud says it has supported the European quantum ecosystem since 2022 and now serves more than 1,000 users through its emulator range.

Those emulators include Perceval and MerLin, with pricing starting at 0.03 euros per hour. OVHcloud said the low-cost access is intended to help users become familiar with different approaches to quantum computing before moving to physical machines.

European focus

The companies presented the integration as part of a broader push to strengthen Europe’s position in quantum computing infrastructure. OVHcloud operates data centres across four continents and serves 1.6 million customers in more than 140 countries, while continuing to emphasise its European identity in cloud and data services.

For Quandela, the agreement places one of its machines in a broader cloud environment that customers can access without direct installation. The approach reflects a wider pattern in quantum computing, where providers increasingly make hardware available remotely rather than selling systems for on-site deployment.

Photonic quantum computing, the model used by Belenos, relies on particles of light rather than superconducting circuits or trapped ions. The field has drawn growing attention from researchers and start-ups because of its potential compatibility with existing optical technologies, though it remains at an early commercial stage.

Miroslaw Klaba, R&D Director at OVHcloud, said the addition marked progress for the company’s platform. “We are delighted to deliver on the promise of the Quantum Platform by adding a second reference quantum computer, Belenos from the French company Quandela. The quantum revolution accelerates and OVHcloud is taking its part as the European Cloud leader within the ecosystem,” he said.

Cloud access

The platform gives private organisations cloud-based access to quantum computers rather than requiring dedicated ownership. That model has become one of the main routes into commercial quantum computing because most businesses are still exploring possible uses and do not yet have a clear case for investing in their own systems.

Providers across the industry increasingly pair access to real hardware with simulators and emulators, allowing users to write and test code in environments that resemble quantum systems. OVHcloud’s platform follows that pattern by combining physical machines with software-based tools.

Quandela said integrating Belenos into the OVHcloud environment should widen access for technical teams working on algorithm development. “The integration of Belenos 12 qubits into the OVHcloud portfolio marks a decisive step for quantum in Europe. Accessible through the cloud, this photonic computer becomes a concrete tool for businesses. With OVHcloud we are offering data scientists and innovators alike the mean to develop their algorithms on a flexible and sovereign infrastructure,” said Niccolò Somaschi, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Quandela.