There are many organisations with an interest in telecommunications.Some are organisations which try to help consumers individually - for example local advice agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureaux Service.

Others try to help by promoting consumer needs in the media or by talking to government departments - for example the National Consumer Council or Consumers Association. Some are government departments, or European Commission Directorates. And of course there are many commercial companies providing different types of telecommunications services, or providing services which use the telephone network - for example Internet and e-mail service providers.

The links below are listed in two section.   The first lists links to pages which provide information intended for telecoms consumers. The second links to the home pages of relevant organisations.

The major telecoms operators and Internet Service Providers all have their own web sites.  We have not listed them here.

Links to consumer information pages

OFTEL consumer advice - A range of information about telecoms services

OFTEL consumer research - Consumer research section on OFTEL website

Price comparison - this website asks you a number of questions about your pattern of phone usage, then presents information about the best tariffs available from operators providing a service in your area.

CPI - this website was set up by a number of telecoms operators working together and with OFTEL.  It compares the performance of the different telecoms companies on fault repair times, complaints resolution, service provision etc.

Mobile Survey - Mobile network operators' call success rate survey

Telecoms Advice has been set up in response to a recommendation by Oftel's Small Business Task Force.  This is an independent website for small businesses who need to know about using telecoms and the internet

Links to other organisations

DTI - Department of Trade and Industry - The DTI's purpose is to increase UK competitiveness and scientific excellence, generating sustainable growth, good jobs, opportunities and enhanced quality of life for all.

OFTEL - Office of Telecommunications

CA- Consumers' Association - CA is the UK's largest consumer organisation and seeks to empower people to make informed consumer decisions and to achieve measurable improvements in goods and services.

CMA - Communications Management Association - large business telecoms users' organisation which aims to influence the telecommunications environment for the benefit of users, to maximise awareness of the role of telecommunications in the development of information services through a process of education, to improve overall and specific skill levels in the practice of telecommunications management.

NACAB - National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux - Regional CABs provide free, confidential,independent and impartial advice on every subject.

OFT - Office of Fair Trading - set up in 1973 and headed by the Director General of Fair Trading,the OFT is a non-ministerial department of government with a range of legal responsibilities as the principle UK Fair Trading authority. OFT plays a key role in protecting the economic welfare of consumers, and in enforcing UK competition policy.

NCNC -National Code & Number Change
The UK's telephone numbering system is being reorganised. This site contains important information for anyone who uses a telephone in the UK or calls the UK from abroad.

PAU- Public Appointments Unit

LACOTS -Local authorities co-ordinating body on food and trading standards

RA- Radiocommunications Agency - The RA is an Executive Agency of the DTI and is responsible for the allocation, maintenance and supervision of the UK Radio Spectrum.

ITC - Independent Television Commission - the body that licenses and regulates commercially funded television services in the UK.

ICTSTIS - The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services -regulates the content and promotion of premium rate telephone services.

TSI - Trading Standards Institute - Established in 1881, the Institute is the professional body of Trading Standards Officers in the UK. Trading Standards Officers enforce and advise on a wide range of legislation relating to consumer protection, fair trading and the regulation of consumer markets.

Digital Television Group- Information about digital TV

Otelo - Office of the Telecommunications Ombudsman - If you have a complaint about your telecoms company and it does not resolve the complaint to your satisfaction or does not respond, you can contact the Telecommunications Ombudsman Service.