Regulated prices
Ofcom regulates prices, or imposes charge controls, across a number of different segments covering the telecoms, broadcasting and postal services markets. A high-level summary of a selection of these regulated prices and charge controls can be found below.
Please refer to the relevant regulatory instrument for the full detail relating to a specific regulated price or charge control.
Note: While we do seek to ensure this page is kept up to date, we do not undertake that it will be so. Please refer to the relevant regulatory instrument if looking to rely upon the figures.
Below, we set out the charge controls that apply to MPF rental, FTTC 40/10 rental, and FTTP 40/10 rental as a result of the 2021 WFTMR Statement
| Basket/service | Charge control for 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023 | Charge control for 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024 | Charge control for 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPF rental | £89.59 | £99.53 | The charge control for each relevant period will then be determined with reference to CPI. |
| FTTC 40/10 rental | £62.94 | £69.93 | The charge control for each relevant period will then be determined with reference to CPI. |
| FTTP 40/10 rental (where a copper based 40/10 service is not available) | The MPF price + FTTC 40/10 price plus a premium of £21.26. | £193.08, including a premium of £23.62 | The charge control for each relevant period will then be determined with reference to CPI. |
See the 2021 WFTMR Statement (including the subsequent modification) for more details on the charge controls we have imposed.
| From 1 April 2020 | From 1 June 2021 | From 1 April 2022 | From 1 April 2023 | From 1 April 2024 | From 1 April 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTR | 0.468 | 0.379 | 0.391 | 0.440 | ||
| Forecast cap | CPI+2.4% | CPI+1.5% |
Source: 2021 MCT model, Ofcom
The MTR cap applies to all mobile communication providers as listed in the Wholesale Voice Markets Review 2021-26.
| From 1 April 2020 | From 1 June 2021 | From 1 April 2022 | From 1 April 2023 | From 1 April 2024 | From 1 April 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTR | 0.0292 | 0.0294 | 0.0310 | 0.0343 | ||
| Forecast cap | CPI+0% | CPI+0% |
The FTR cap applies to all fixed communication providers as listed in the Wholesale Voice Markets Review 2021-26.
This is set out in more detail under condition 3A, Annex 5 of the Wholesale Voice Markets Review 2021-26. Ofcom will endeavour to publish this table with the relevant charge control for each period once the necessary CPI data is available to us.
Ofcom introduced the safeguard cap for Second Class products in 2012 to ensure a basic, affordable, universal postal service is available to all consumers and that users of postal services, especially vulnerable consumers, are protected from ongoing price increases. The safeguard caps include a cap on the price of Second Class stamps for standard letters, and a separate basket cap for Second Class stamps on large letters and small and medium parcels up to 2kg.
In 2017 we reviewed the regulation of Royal Mail and concluded that the Second Class safeguard caps should remain in place. We committed to review the level of the caps during the course of the 2018/19 financial year, prior to their expiry on 31 March 2019.
We have now completed our review and have decided to raise the level of the Second Class standard letter cap from 60p to 65.2p in April 2019. The cap will rise by CPI each year on 1 April from 2020 until the end of the control period, on 31 March 2024. We have decided not to raise the level of the basket cap, and therefore the level of the cap will remain 29.4% above 2018-19 average prices, and continue to increase by CPI each year on 1 April until the end of the control period.
The caps will come into effect on 1 April 2019 and remain in force until 31 March 2024.
| Safeguard cap | April 2019 | April 2020 – March 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard letter cap | 65.2p | + CPI |
| Basket cap (large letters and small and medium parcels up to 2kg) | 2018-19 weighted average price + 29.4% + CPI | + CPI |