- The UK government wants telecoms companies to present their prices more clearly
- BT/EE, VMO2, Vodafone Three, Sky and TalkTalk all included in negotiations
- 5G SA and gigabit broadband for many by 2030 and 2032
UK government ministers are urging telecoms companies to improve communication with their customers about prices to protect them from unfair or unexpected price rises.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stressed that contracted customers should not face price increases higher than those they signed up for, and that existing customers should also be exposed to new messaging of price rises in pounds and pence rather than the previous percentage system.
Industry leaders have been invited to a roundtable with ministers to discuss how to better support customers before concrete plans are put in place.
Telecom companies must clarify pricing details
The letter was addressed to BT/EE, VirginMedia O2, Vodafone Three, Sky and TalkTalk, and follows a letter to Ofcom welcoming the watchdog’s efforts to improve transparency around the presentation of prices in the contract.
Kendall also opened the floor to ideas on how to get greater transparency on billing details, the same way utility bills are itemized.
“When we meet with them next, I expect business leaders to present clear plans to protect Britons from unexpected price rises and improve their communications with customers,” wrote technical secretary Liz Kendall.
“Customers need to feel confident that they are getting a fair deal,” Reeves added.
The government, however, does not expect telecommunications companies to keep price increases to a minimum free of charge. In return, he intends to “invest in the infrastructure we all rely on and ensure that even more people across the country can benefit from improved connectivity and access to digital services.”
As well as protecting their 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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