UK Regulator to Ban Mobile Phone Companies From Selling Locked Handsets
October 27 2020 - 6:51AM
Dow Jones News
By Adria Calatayud
U.K. communications regulator Ofcom said Tuesday that it will
ban mobile phone companies from selling handsets locked to their
networks, a move that is expected to make it easier for consumers
to switch between providers.
The ban is part of a broader package of rules outlined by the
regulator, which will also require companies to provide better
contract information and measures to make it easier for customers
to switch between broadband providers.
While some U.K. mobile phone operators sell unlocked devices to
their customers, other companies like BT Group PLC, Vodafone Group
PLC and Tesco Mobile still sell mobile phones that can't be used
with other networks unless they are unlocked, Ofcom said.
Almost half of the customers who try to unlock their device find
difficulties in doing so, Ofcom added.
The new rules, which will become effective from December 2021,
will allow consumers to move to a different mobile network while
keeping their existing handset, hassle-free, the regulator
said.
"We stand ready to implement these changes when they come into
force," a Vodafone spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for BT's EE said the business will work with
Ofcom to comply with its guidelines.
Write to Adria Calatayud at adria.calatayud@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 27, 2020 06:36 ET (10:36 GMT)
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