The latest Oftel benchmarking study published in June shows prices of PSTN (Public Switched Telephony Network), mobile and Internet services compare favourably with prices elsewhere.

For UK residential PSTN services prices are below average and only slightly above average for businesses.

For the first time this study compared incumbent PSTN tariff schemes for disadvantaged users. Only the UK has a scheme for those with low telecom usage, for the other countries studied included in the study eligibility is means tested. UK prices for eligible users compared favourably to those in other European countries, especially for very low usage.

UK prices for mobile services also compare favourably with elsewhere other European countries and domestic mobile prices are below average. Post-pay roaming prices are cheaper than elsewhere but pre-pay roaming prices remain high.

For narrowband Internet services the UK position is generally positive for both metered and unmetered services. The UK and the US are still the only two countries with high availability of unmetered dial-up services but other countries have started to catch up with offers of low price/low speed, always on services.

Broadband prices in the UK also compare positively. For 257kbit/s+ residential services, only Sweden is cheaper. For the first time comparisons of residential "entry level" always on services (128kbit/s and above) have been included and for these the UK is cheaper than elsewhere.

For basic broadband business services prices are about average. Prices for higher capacity business services have fallen elsewhere and the UK’s position has deteriorated. However, UK prices are expected to fall in the next benchmark due to recent wholesale price cuts.

A comparison of alternative broadband services was also included in the benchmark. Satellite services are generally more expensive than DSL and cable modems but UK satellite prices compare favourably to elsewhere.