Warning over hidden 3G charges
Warning over hidden 3G charges as Oftel presses
ahead with cheaper calls to mobiles
20 December 2003
Commenting on today’s Oftel announcement on
mobile phone call termination charges, James King, senior policy
officer at the National Consumer Council said:
'Oftel’s determination to press ahead with
the cuts in rip-off mobile phone charges is welcome. But the regulator’s
decision to allow 3G mobile phone operators the freedom to charge
what they like for calls from fixed lines and other mobile networks
leaves a gaping loophole. It is extremely short-sighted and totally
illogical.
As the 3G market expands, a free-for all on 3G termination
charges will hit callers hard, especially those who use land lines
– often the elderly and those on low incomes. People won’t
know if they are calling a 2G or 3G network, so won’t know
whether the termination charge is excessive.
"The four mobile network operators wasted enormous
amounts of their customers’ money on a Competition Commission
Inquiry and a High Court Appeal, in a vain attempt to head off
the cuts in charges to 2G networks. Now that the argument has
to be re-run within the new EU rules, it would be unacceptable
if the operators continued their Canute-like stance and appealed
yet again against today’s decision. The operators should
concentrate their efforts, instead, on ensuring the cuts feed
through into customer bills."
National Consumer
Coucil | 
