- The British government wants the telecommunications companies to present the prices more clearly
- BT/EE, VMO2, Vodafone Three, Sky and TalkTalk are all included in the calls
- 5G SA and gigabit broadband for many in 2030 and 2032
UK government ministers are urging telecoms companies to improve communication with customers about prices to protect them from unfair or unexpected price increases.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and technology secretary Liz Kendall stressed that customers under contract should not face price rises beyond those they signed up for, and that older customers should also be exposed to the new price rise notices in pounds and pence rather than the previous percentage system.
Industry leaders have been invited to a round table with ministers to discuss how to better support customers before concrete plans are made.
Telecom companies must make price information clearer
The letter was addressed to BT/EE, VirginMedia O2, Vodafone Three, Sky and TalkTalk, and comes on the back of a letter to Ofcom welcoming the watchdog’s efforts to improve transparency around in-contract pricing.
Kendall also opened the floor to ideas on how to achieve greater transparency around billing details, similar to how utility bills are itemized.
“When we meet them shortly, I expect company bosses to set out clear plans to protect Britons from unexpected price rises and improve their customer communications,” technical secretary Liz Kendall wrote.
“Customers need to feel confident that they are getting a fair deal,” Reeves added.
However, the government does not expect the telecommunications companies to keep price increases to a minimum free of charge. In return, it intends to “invest in the infrastructure we all depend on and ensure even more people across the country can enjoy improved 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 bringing 5G SA access to all populated areas by 2030 and connecting 99% of premises to gigabit connections by 2032.
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