Brits paying less for broadband than their European and U.S. counterparts

Communications regulator Ofcom said that UK consumers are paying less than their European and U.S. counterparts for broadband and communication services.

Ofcom made the statement after its independent study showed that the costs for fixed and mobile broadband and phone services in the UK were lower compared to similar services in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.S. The study noted a steady decline in prices since 2008.

According the Ofcom, the cost of using fixed line phone, broadband, pay-TV and mobile phones for a “typical” British family was around £102 or 28 percent cheaper than the same services in the next cheapest country, Italy.

Because of the continued decline in the prices of mobile communications service in the UK, a subscriber can now have a mobile broadband service for as little as £4.98 per month if you are already an Orange customer. Non-Orange subscriber pay at least £7.50 for the same service.

Consumers also have the alternative to get a mobile broadband including a laptop from £24.47 per month – so it’s not surprising that UK prices compare favourably to those in Europe and the US.

Moreover, the price of the cheapest mobile phone service in the UK dropped by 8 percent between July ’08 and ’09, and the cheapest broadband services fell by 14 percent in the same period.

Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said the UK consumers have benefited from the stiff market competition.

He said, “Innovation means that the UK is well placed in the take up and availability of digital services.”

The regulator earlier revealed that some 35 percent of consumers in the UK now take broadband, home phone and digital TV services bundled from the same company.