Now that’s a sexy subject … But it’s big bucks and who pays and why are complex and controversial issues.

Ofcom issued a consultation document on “Mobile Call Termination” on 12 September. It is a formidable document of 281 pages. Embarrassingly it subsequently had to issue a list of corrections. The closing date for submissions is 22 November.

As presently constructed, the document suggests that in effect callers from fixed lines should subsidise calls to mobiles which in turn subsidises mobile handsets. BT accounts for around 50% of calls from fixed to mobile, so it is its customers that will be hit hardest but so will other users of fixed networks when calling mobile networks.

From a customer point of view, I ask myself (and Ofcom): Are customers aware of this subsidy and how do they feel about it? Can all the elements of the subsidy really be justified? What processes did the regulator take to ensure that the consumer interest was factored into its review and how is it weighing that consumer interest? Did Ofcom colleagues use the Consumer Toolkit devised by the Ofcom Consumer Panel?

I provide a more detailed briefing on this matter here.