Charging structures for telecommunications and the regulations that define them have not changed since they were designed by the railway companies over a hundred years ago! The railways created the first telephone networks, and charged for them in the same way – you pay a fee to use the infrastructure and then you pay for every mile you travel along it.
Today we call them Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs) and per minute call charges. There is no reason for the usage of the mobile internet to be charged in the same way. It should be charged like the rest of the internet, or like television – you don't discriminate on what people do with their access, you just let them use it. Unless these regulatory hurdles are removed the mobile internet will remain stifled at birth.
Market growth requires an opening up of access to the internet-based services people use at home and transparent low pricing that will enable the sort of changes in consumer behaviour that has seen the dramatic growth in fixed internet services.
Find out how to keep it when you switch phone companies.
It's your number - Find out how to keep it when you switch phone companies.