Ofcom to apply freephone rules to mobile calls
MOBILE calls to businesses or services using freephone numbers will be free from 2015 as part of new rules unveiled by Ofcom yesterday.
Freephone numbers 0800, 0808 and 116 will be made free from mobiles under the plans, and the pricing of 08, 09 or 118 numbers will be made clearer for callers.
“These changes will be the biggest for UK telephone customers in more than a decade. We expect them to restore people’s confidence in using phone services, and to increase competition,” said Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards.
Calls to freephone numbers currently cost between 14p and 40p a minute on mobiles, operators will have until June 2015 to make these calls free on mobiles.
“Freephone will mean free for all consumers, and the cost of calling other services will be made clear. Telephone users will be able to see how much they’re paying, and where their money is going,” said Richards.
Operators of 08, 09 or 118 numbers will be required to outline their per minute charges for mobiles, rather than just stating that they could cost considerably more than BT landlines.