UK communications regulator Ofcom is working with fixed-line and mobile network operators to inform consumers about forthcoming changes to telephone call charges.

Calls from UK mobile phones to 0800 and 0808 ‘free phone’ telephone numbers will be free to all customers from next summer. In addition, call rates to other numbers that begin with 08, 09 and 118 will be clarified for fixed-line and mobile customers.

Ofcom has published research on mobile phone call quality from the ‘big four’ UK network operators.

It’s used data from mobile analytics specialist RootMetrics to better understand consumers’ experience of making phone calls on the EE, O2, Three and Vodafone networks.

Ofcom has scaled back its plans to increase the licence fees paid by UK mobile networks for the 900MHz and 1800MHz spectrum bands initially used for 2G and 3G services.

It previously proposed increasing overall charges paid by the ‘big four’ mobile network operators from £39.7 million for the 1800MHz spectrum up to £170.4 million.

UK communications regulator Ofcom has published an online guide to help customers unlock their mobile phones.

Mobile network operators may electronically ‘lock’ mobile phones to their network when customers buy the phone. It’s necessary to unlock these phones before they can be used with a different network provider... and this is sometimes chargeable.

New research published by UK communications regulator Ofcom shows that signing up to the Telephone Preference Service reduces the number of unsolicited ‘live’ marketing or sales calls by around a third.

Organisations are legally required to ensure they don’t call numbers registered on the TPS unless they have the consumer’s consent to contact them.