Ofcom prepares mobile sector consultation

Mobile operators have braced themselves for increased legislation following the Ofcom report

UK comms regulator Ofcom today published an initial consultation document assessing how the mobile sector delivers on the needs of UK citizens and consumers and posing questions about the future of competition and regulatory policy.

At the launch of the consultation, telecoms, IT and media advisers Analysys Mason presented an Ofcom-commissioned report which concluded that " adjustments to the UK regulatory framework are required given consumers' rapid adoption of mobile broadband services".

The consultation raises the question of whether UK mobile operators will be in for another battering in November, the closing date for the consultation.

This will be courtesy of Ofcom rather than the mobile operators' nemesis over the past few years, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding.

In the consultation document, Ofcom commented: "85 per cent of UK adults have a mobile phone and the UK mobile industry has five operators which between them generate more than £15bn a year.

"This is 51 per cent of overall retail revenue for telecoms in the UK, and more revenue than fixed voice and broadband services combined."

The consultation document Mobile citizens, mobile consumers has four major questions affecting mobile operators and their services, consumers and regulators.

The main one for UK customers is 'How are citizens and consumers affected by developments in the mobile sector?'.

This largely depends on the other main question: 'What is the scope for deregulation, competition and innovation in the mobile sector?'.