COST OF CALLS TO MOBILE PHONES: COMPETITION COMMISSION INVITES EVIDENCE

David Edmonds, the Director General of Telecommunications, has asked the Competition Commission to investigate whether the charges that Vodafone, Orange, One2One and BT Cellnet make for connecting calls to their networks (termination charges) are too high.

The Commission will examine whether termination charges are too high and if so, whether it is in the public interest for such charges to be regulated. The Commission has six months to complete the inquiry, although an extension of up to six months can be granted if necessary.

The Commission would welcome views from interested parties, in writing, by Wednesday 23 January. To submit evidence please write to:

The Reference Secretary (Mobile Phones)
Competition Commission
New Court
48 Carey Street
London WC2A 2JT

Or email: mobilephones@competition-commission.gsi.gov.uk

Professor Paul Geroski, a Commission Deputy Chairman, will chair the inquiry. The other members of the group are Nicholas Garthwaite, Diana Guy, Professor Jonathan Haskel and Roger Munson.

Notes to Editors

The reference was made by the Director General of Telecommunications under the Telecommunications Act 1984, on 7 January 2002 (see Oftel Press Release 01/02)
Further information can be found on the Commission website www.competition-commission.org.uk
Enquiries should be directed to: Francis Royle, Press Officer Tel: 020 7271 0242

Group members
Professor Paul Geroski (Chairman)
Mr Nicholas Garthwaite
Mrs Diana Guy
Professor Jonathan Haskel>
Mr Roger Munson