Regulator proposes cap on mobile phone charges

Mobile phone companies may be forced to reduce call charges under a radical new proposal by the telecommunications regulator.

Etain Doyle placed a price cap on fixed line services in January 2000. It now seems likely that a similar price cap will be put in place to regulate the cost of mobile phone charges.

The plan, which was outlined in a Review of the Price Cap on Certain Telecommunications Services yesterday, proposes to impose a cap on calls made to and from mobiles, and between mobiles and fixed line phones. The cap could come into affect in January 2003.