- UK government wants telcos to present prices more clearly
- BT/EE, VMO2, Vodafone Three, Sky and TalkTalk included in talks
- 5G SA and gigabit broadband for many in 2030 and 2032
UK government ministers are urging telcos to improve communication with customers around prices to protect them from unfair or unexpected price increases.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stressed that contract customers should not face price increases beyond those they have signed up for, and that traditional customers should also be exposed to the new price increase messages in pounds and pence instead of the previous percentage system.
Industry leaders were invited to a roundtable with ministers to discuss how to best support customers before concrete plans are implemented.
Telecom companies must clarify pricing details
The letter was addressed to BT/EE, VirginMedia O2, Vodafone Three, Sky and TalkTalk, and comes on the back of a letter to Ofcom applauding the watchdog’s effort to improve transparency around the presentation of prices within the contract.
Kendall also opened the door to ideas about how to achieve greater transparency around billing details, similar to how utility bills are itemized.
“When we meet them shortly, I hope company bosses will present clear plans to protect Britons from unexpected price increases and improve communication with their customers,” Technology Secretary Liz Kendall wrote.
“Customers should feel confident that they are getting a fair deal,” Reeves added.
However, the Government does not expect telcos to keep price increases to a minimum for free. In return, it aims to “invest in the infrastructure we all depend on and ensure that even more people across the country can enjoy better connectivity and access to digital services.”
As well as protecting customers, telcos have a responsibility to help the UK deliver its 10-year infrastructure strategy, which includes providing 5G SA access to all populated areas by 2030 and connecting 99% of premises to gigabit connections by 2032.
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