Watchdog to probe mobile charges

TELECOMS watchdog Oftel is to refer its proposed cuts in charges for receiving mobile phone calls to the Competition Commission in early 2002, following objections from UK operators.

Oftel announced in September that the price of calls to mobile phones in the UK was set to fall by 4p per minute. All four operators - Deutsche Telekom's One2One, Vodafone, mmO2's BT Cellnet and Orange - had objected to the changes.

The measures, which would save consumers £800m, have been given the thumbs-down by some consumer groups who felt they did not go far enough.

'I regret that the operators have rejected the measures, as our proposals are proportionate and fair for consumers and the industry alike,' Oftel Director General David Edmonds said in a statement.