The cost of calling mobile telephone numbers from BT Payphones is 40p connection plus just over 63ppm. The minimum charge of 60p is consumed within 19 seconds, with each 10p unit lasting just 9.5 seconds.

The Wayback Machine shows that this has been the case for at least ten years.

This contrasts with a geographic call which costs 0.67ppm, or the 60p minimum charge which will last 30 seconds with each additional 10p unit purchasing up to 15 minutes' of talk time.

When the termination rates for various number ranges are compared, the scale of the rip-off becomes even more evident:

UK landline numbers starting 01 and 02 are capped at 0.21p per minute.

Non-geographic numbers starting 03 are capped at 0.56p per minute.

UK mobile numbers starting 071 to 075 and 077 to 079 are capped at 0.49p per minute.

Mobile termination rates were around 25p per minute in the late 1990s. Call charges for calls to mobile numbers have not decreased in line with termination rate reductions since that time.

Ian01 wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2017 at 8:35am:

When the termination rates for various number ranges are compared, the scale of the rip-off becomes even more evident: UK landline numbers starting 01 and 02 are capped at 0.21p per minute. Non-geographic numbers starting 03 are capped at 0.56p per minute. UK mobile numbers starting 071 to 075 and 077 to 079 are capped at 0.49p per minute.

I believe that, while 03 termination rates were higher than landline rates, the cost of 03 rates hasn't dropped. I would have thought that 03 termination rates need to go down with reductions in termination rates of 01 and 02 numbers.



Ian01 wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2017 at 8:35am:

Mobile termination rates were around 25p per minute in the late 1990s. Call charges for calls to mobile numbers have not decreased in line with termination rate reductions since that time.

This is reminiscent of energy companies that put up retail prices when wholesale costs go up but don't bring them down when the wholesale costs go down.

While termination rates for calls to 03 numbers remain higher than for calls to mobile numbers, there can be no justification for charging calls to mobile numbers any higher than for calls to 03 numbers.