|
 Mobile termination rates have already fallen drastically, down 80
percent since 2011 from about 4 pence a minute to 0.8 pence. A
decade ago, termination rates, which apply to calls from landlines
as well as mobiles, were about 14 pence a minute.
Ofcom said a new mobile charge control, applying to all operators,
would see rates fall slightly further, to less than half a penny per
minute by April 2017 in real terms.
Ofcom Competition Policy Director Brian Potterill said consumers
were benefiting from a thriving competitive market.
"The average cost of a call bundle has fallen from 40 pounds to
around 13 pounds in real terms over the last ten years," he said.
"We want to ensure mobile users continue to benefit from
competition, which will deliver affordable services in the years
ahead."
Britain has four major network operators: EE, a joint venture
between Deutsche Telekom and Orange, Vodafone, Telfonica's O2 and
Hutchison's Three.
[to top of second column] |
Ofcom said it expected to publish its final decisions by March 2015.
(Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Neil Maidment)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
