Ofcom : British Telecom

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has ruled that UK mobile operators face millions of pounds in repayments after overcharging BT customers who called mobile phones from their fixed lines. The ruling covers an ongoing row between BT and mobile operators after the latter raised termination rates in 2006; the CAT has ruled that prices should have been lower and therefore repayments must be made. BT Retail’s director of strategy, Jeff Richardson, said ‘BT is very pleased with the competition appeals tribunal result and sees it as an important step on the route to lower and fairer termination mobile rates’. Regulator Ofcom announced reduced mobile termination rates in July 2007, with cuts of 10% for Vodafone and O2, 20% for Orange and T-Mobile and 45% for 3.