Open Communications: a Smart Data scheme for the UK telecoms market

This consultation will help us to better understand the potential benefits and challenges of introducing an Open Communications scheme into the UK telecoms market.

If taken forward, Open Communications would require broadband and mobile companies to provide their customers (on request) with data about their telecoms service - for example the price they pay, their download speeds and the data they use.

This consultation is inviting feedback on 3 core elements of any future Open Communications scheme:

• the organisations who should participate
• the data which should be made available
• how data should be shared with consumers

We invite feedback from users of:

• connectivity services
• businesses or public institutions who procure telecoms services
• Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
• Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)
• Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
• technology companies who may seek to use Open Communications data or are already within scope of a Smart Data scheme, such as price comparison websites and banks

In particular we are seeking evidence regarding the extent to which a scheme may encourage consumer engagement in the market, the potential resource costs for telecoms providers and how it may impact competition more broadly.

Read our consultation privacy notice.

The impact assessment assessment sets out our economic analysis of potential costs and benefits of an Open Communications scheme. It highlights the potential challenges facing consumers navigating the market as well as the potential impact this is having in the form of loyalty penalties.