Regulation would remain a necessary
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:17 am
e March consultation concluded that voice calls to certain networks, namely O2, Vodafone, 3, T-Mobile and Orange, were each deemed to be a separate economic market. MNOs were deemed to have SMP when it came to 2G and 3G call termination. Buyers of wholesale termination services, including BT, were prohibited from exercising their purchasing power to ensure competitive pricing.
requirement to protect qatar telegram consumers when it came to terms, conditions and pricing. New proposals arising from this included a reduction of termination charges to 5.3ppm by 2010-2011 for O2, Orange, Vodafone and T-Mobile, and to 6.0ppm for 3. There was also a pledge to review the market for SMS termination in 2007, estimated to take 12 to 18 months and requiring numerous discussions.
In 2007, Ofcom imposed regulatory standards for VoIP services, acknowledging the burgeoning growth in this technology. From June of that year, providers would have to state whether the likes of call itemisation, operator access, directory assistance and directory listings were available. They would also have to state whether customers could retain their telephone number should they switch providers; whether the VoIP service included emergency service access; and dependency upon power supply at the point of origination.
This regulatory framework has been developed and strengthened over time. For example, Ofcom has subsequently ruled that VoIP providers must allow the potentially vital ability for customers to access emergency services through 999 calls.
More recent regulatory reviews
Ofcom reviewed the regulations for wholesale MCT in 2017 in order to gather views for proposals due to come into force between April 2018 and March 2021. Among the proposals, there was a suggestion that among the 80 markets, or providers, each should be allowed to set termination charges to Ofcom allocated mobile numbers in the UK; the likes of WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype did not fall within this market.
Each provider was deemed to have SMP over the calls within their control, allowing them to price call termination or refuse other providers the option to connect a call to these numbers. As a result, Ofcom proposed to apply two rules to SMP providers. The first was access obligation to provide fair terms and conditions on their network. The second was charge control, to set a limit on the LRIC (long-run incremental cost) of termination.
For 2017-2018, Ofcom ruled that the nominal upper ceiling that the four main MNOs can charge other providers for MCT should not exceed 0.495ppm.
requirement to protect qatar telegram consumers when it came to terms, conditions and pricing. New proposals arising from this included a reduction of termination charges to 5.3ppm by 2010-2011 for O2, Orange, Vodafone and T-Mobile, and to 6.0ppm for 3. There was also a pledge to review the market for SMS termination in 2007, estimated to take 12 to 18 months and requiring numerous discussions.
In 2007, Ofcom imposed regulatory standards for VoIP services, acknowledging the burgeoning growth in this technology. From June of that year, providers would have to state whether the likes of call itemisation, operator access, directory assistance and directory listings were available. They would also have to state whether customers could retain their telephone number should they switch providers; whether the VoIP service included emergency service access; and dependency upon power supply at the point of origination.
This regulatory framework has been developed and strengthened over time. For example, Ofcom has subsequently ruled that VoIP providers must allow the potentially vital ability for customers to access emergency services through 999 calls.
More recent regulatory reviews
Ofcom reviewed the regulations for wholesale MCT in 2017 in order to gather views for proposals due to come into force between April 2018 and March 2021. Among the proposals, there was a suggestion that among the 80 markets, or providers, each should be allowed to set termination charges to Ofcom allocated mobile numbers in the UK; the likes of WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype did not fall within this market.
Each provider was deemed to have SMP over the calls within their control, allowing them to price call termination or refuse other providers the option to connect a call to these numbers. As a result, Ofcom proposed to apply two rules to SMP providers. The first was access obligation to provide fair terms and conditions on their network. The second was charge control, to set a limit on the LRIC (long-run incremental cost) of termination.
For 2017-2018, Ofcom ruled that the nominal upper ceiling that the four main MNOs can charge other providers for MCT should not exceed 0.495ppm.