Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2000/11/06/mobile_phones_getting_cheaper/

Mobile phones getting cheaper

And it's all down to us, says Oftel

By Kieren McCarthy

Posted in Networks, 6th November 2000 13:04 GMT

The cost of using a mobile phone has fallen dramatically this year, according to winged watchdog Oftel. If you use a pre-paid phone, you'll be coughing up a third less this year than last. Contract phones are 16 per cent cheaper overall.

Ownership of a mobile is still on the increase - 54 per cent of UK adults now possess one. And a staggering 93 per cent of users are happy with the service they receive. People are all happier than ever to shop around and switch operator for a better deal. All these stats come from Oftel's quarterly survey on mobiles.

And if you have any doubt over who to thank for this wonderful news, the jobsworth head of Oftel David Edmonds tells you: "The price of calls to mobile phones have been capped by Oftel since last year, saving consumers more than £1 billion over three years."

And here was us thinking that heavy competition and hugely increased demand had brought prices down. Must go and re-read those economic textbooks. ®

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Oftel report: Consumers' use of mobile telephony
Oftel report: A Price Index for Mobile Telephony
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