By Adria Calatayud

The U.K.'s Office of Communications proposed on Wednesday to require cellular operators to move customers who pay for handsets and airtime within the same contract to cheaper deals at the end of the minimum period.

Ofcom, the country's telecommunications regulator, said it is concerned that around 1.5 million British consumers who bought a handset with a cellular contract continue to pay the same price after the end of their minimum contract period. This means that they are still paying installments toward a handset many have already paid off, the regulator said.

Ofcom said it is starting a consultation period on a proposal which would require providers to move customers to a different deal when their minimum contract-period ends, so they pay only for airtime.

The regulator is also consulting on a proposal to require providers to break down the cost of cellular packages, it said.

Ofcom said it will seek comments on its proposals until Nov. 7.

Write to Adria Calatayud at adria.calatayudvaello@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 26, 2018 08:58 ET (12:58 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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