The offer comes in response to concerns that the operators are generating excessive revenues from call termination charges. The typical charge for rival operators to access another operators network is 10p a minute, but the charge to the consumer is frequently higher.
Operators remain concerned that regulatory price controls will force them to reduce their spending and delay the roll-out of 3G networks. The Competition Commission is to investigate whether insufficient competitive pressure is allowing the operators to earn excessive profits. It will also examine whether complex pricing packages make comparisons between operators difficult for consumers.
