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Telecoms services in the UK

We’d like to hear what you think

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the UK communications industries. Our role is to look after television, radio, telecommunications (telecoms) and wireless communication services.

One of our many activities in the last few months has been to carry out a review of telecoms in the UK. We started in April 2004 by asking you how you think the telecoms industry sector is changing. Your replies have helped us to suggest new ways that we could regulate telecoms in the future, and we’d now like your opinions about these suggestions. Telecoms are at the heart of our economy and society, giving us:

• fixed phone lines at home or work;
• mobile phone services; and
• the internet.

It’s in everyone’s interests, whether we are private citizens or businesses, to have a high-quality, competitive telecoms industry to serve us.

That’s why our review is asking whether we could all be getting more choice and better value. We are looking closely at the opportunities for more competition, investment and new services. In turn, the conclusions from our review will help shape how we encourage competition and regulate the telecoms market.

What happens next?

We want to know what you think about our suggestions for regulating the telecoms sector. It is very important that we hear from as many different people as possible, representing the widest possible range of views and interests.

This will help us to understand:

• whether you agree that our ideas will work as we think they will; and
• what problems we might meet if we put them into practice.

In spring 2005, once we have heard and considered all your opinions during this review, we will be issuing a statement. This will set out our future approach to regulating the industry.

This summary document is for those of you who would like to give us your opinion, but who don't have the time - or the technical knowledge - needed to go through the main consultation document. (But if you want to see it, go to: www.ofcom.org.uk) This plain English summary outlines the main issues, and asks for your opinions on the central questions for the review.

• Plain English summary [pdf]
  Full print version

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