Ref: 56/03
Date: 20 October 2003

Oftel has today announced that 2 million phone lines in the UK now have carrier pre-selection, enabling consumers to get a better deal on their phone bill.

The number of lines with carrier pre-selection has doubled in the last six months as consumers take advantage of competition in the fixed market to shop around for a better deal.

Carrier pre-selection enables consumers to use an alternative phone company to BT without changing their phone line and without dialling extra numbers.

Companies providing carrier pre-selection services range from small specialist suppliers to big high street brand names – all competing on value for money and quality of service. For example, some of them offer to save consumers up to 30 per cent on their existing phone bill.

David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications said today:

"Carrier pre-selection is a real success story. It allows consumers to switch phone suppliers with minimum fuss – without changing their phone line or dialling extra digits.

"With companies offering significant savings on consumers' fixed bills, there is a real incentive for people to use carrier pre-selection as an alternative for their fixed phone calls.

"As we reach 2 million phone lines with carrier pre-selection in the UK it is clear that consumers are recognising the savings that can be made and I expect to see this positive trend continue."

Consumers can compare prices of different phone services by visiting www.uswitch.com a price comparison website approved by Oftel.

Notes to editors

1. Carrier pre-selection (CPS) allows calls to be automatically routed by software at BT's exchange to an alternative telephone company without the need for a dialler box or dialling extra digits. CPS means that consumers with BT lines can choose different phone companies to carry different calls. Oftel required BT to introduce CPS to boost competition in the fixed line market and bring benefits to consumers such as lower call prices.

2. A list of service providers offering CPS is available from Oftel's website at www.oftel.gov.uk/ind_groups/op_policy/cpscgm/cpslistoprts.htm.

3. Oftel is currently working with the industry to take carrier pre-selection a stage further by introducing an enhanced wholesale line rental product. This will allow consumers to receive one bill for both line rental and calls from an alternative supplier.