Internet and fibre subscriptions: how to transfer your line when you move

Moving to a new home means putting internet at the top of the list: for remote workers, students and everyone who relies on services at home, a stable connection is a basic need. Yet whether the same service is available at the new address, what happens to your current commitment and when the line will be connected are often thought about only after the move, and people can be offline for weeks. This article explains how to manage your internet subscription when you move, the difference between transferring a line and switching provider, and how to avoid common problems. We do not give prices or tariffs; they change constantly and should be taken from the providers' current offers.

First, find out the new address's infrastructure

The type of internet service (fibre, VDSL, ADSL, cable or mobile solutions) depends on the address's infrastructure. Even in the same neighbourhood two buildings can have different infrastructure. Before you rent or buy:

• Use the address-check tools on providers' websites or call centres to learn which service and speed can be offered at that address.
• Ask the management whether the building has shared infrastructure, such as cabling inside a complex.
• Ask current residents or neighbours which provider works without trouble.

Do not neglect internet infrastructure when choosing a home; if you work remotely it can even be a bargaining point. For the overall plan of moving, see our checklist for moving to Antalya, and for choosing a removals firm see the moving day checklist.

Line transfer versus switching provider

The two are often confused:

• Line transfer (change of address): you stay with the same provider and move your service to the new address. The provider checks whether it can offer the same service there.
• Switching provider: you move from your current provider to another one. The new provider takes the application based on its own infrastructure.

A draft that the BTK (Information and Communication Technologies Authority) opened to public comment in 2021 defines "transfer" as the subscriber continuing the service with the same operator at a new address after a change of residence, and envisaged applications through e-Devlet. Under the draft, the operator would check whether the same service can be provided at the new address and, if a different service is possible, obtain the subscriber's information and consent. This document is a draft; confirm the rules currently applied with your provider and BTK's official pages.

If you are under a commitment period

Read your commitment contract before a transfer or a switch. According to press reports on the 2022 amendment to BTK's Consumer Rights Regulation, a commitment period can be at most 24 months, and a subscriber can terminate without a penalty if the committed internet speed is not delivered. If the service cannot be offered at the new address at all, or a different service is offered, ask your provider in writing how penalty-free termination and device costs would work.

Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Step-by-step line transfer

• 1. Fix the moving date. Apply once the key handover and actual moving day are clear; applying too early can cause appointment shifts.
• 2. Check the new address. Learn about infrastructure suitability through your provider's call centre, app or branch.
• 3. Submit the request. Have your subscriber number, ID and the complete new address (province, district, neighbourhood, building and flat number) ready. The address should match your population register address, so do not neglect the change of address process.
• 4. Appointment and installation. Book a date for the technical team. Entering the building may need management permission or access to common areas.
• 5. Set up the device at the new home. Connect the modem as the provider instructs; report any problem the same day.
• 6. Close the old address. If you transferred the line, make sure the service at the old address is closed; if billing continues, object.

If you are switching provider

According to press reports, BTK launched on 1 June 2026 a new system in which switching between internet operators is approved through e-Devlet. As reported, you apply to the new operator, are notified by SMS, and verify your identity on the e-Devlet approval screen; the aim is that the existing connection is not cut during the switch. The same report lists some exceptions: people who changed operator in the last 30 days, those who have made a certain number of changes in a year, and subscriptions already in a transfer, relocation or cancellation process fall outside the system. Rules and details may have changed, so check BTK and the new operator's current information before you switch. Do not cancel your current subscription before the new line is connected; that would lengthen the time you are offline.

Common problems and how to prevent them

• Installation appointment is delayed: applying at least two to three weeks before the move leaves room for delays. Plan mobile hotspot internet as a temporary solution.
• The same speed cannot be provided: with different infrastructure, speed and tariff may change. Do not accept the change without confirming it in writing.
• Double billing: if bills arrive for both addresses, document when the service ended and object.
• Returning devices: return the modem and other equipment with a signed record when you terminate or switch.
• Complaints about service quality: first make a written or recorded complaint to the operator's call centre and keep the reference number; if it is not resolved, you can use BTK's complaint channels.

Think about other subscriptions too

Internet is not the only subscription you must handle. Electricity and water must be closed at the old address and opened at the new one. Our guide to subscription transfer and closure explains how to record meter readings and which documents are needed. At the new home, see opening an electricity subscription on e-Devlet and opening a water subscription in Antalya.

Short checklist

• Check the address's internet infrastructure before you rent or buy.
• Read the commitment period and termination conditions.
• Apply for a transfer or new subscription two to three weeks before moving.
• Keep your address details consistent with the population register.
• Keep the reference number of every call and all written confirmations.
• Verify that the service at the old address has been closed.

If you are still looking for a home, take a look at our page on buying a home in Antalya. Feel free to write to us with any questions.

This content is for general information only and is not legal or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional before making a decision.

Cover photo: Onur Bülbül / CC BY-SA 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons