The Office of Utility Regulation has announced that lower mobile termination rates will take effect from today.

MTRs are the fees mobile operators charge for connecting calls from one network to another.

The reduction in these costs follows discussions in 2009 led by the OUR with the three mobile operators and will see a flat rate of 4.11p per minute between operators. The current average is 6.75p per minute.

The OUR said the reduction should ultimately bring benefits for both fixed-line and mobile phone users.

Director-general John Curran said the commitment by the three mobile operators to introduce significant reductions in charges was welcomed.

‘This will further assist in reducing mobile phone bills. Since 2007, these charges have fallen from a high of over 12p per minute so these are substantial reductions and should benefit consumers.

‘The overall saving in telecoms costs from this decision is almost £1m. per year and this should, coupled with the other initiatives we have been pursuing in the mobile market, provide a further boost to competition.’

All three of the island’s telecoms operators welcomed the changes.

The new rates will apply for three years.

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