It seems that not a week goes by without Ofcom being mentioned in the news, so it is more than likely that you have heard of them. However, if you are reading this, you might not be fully up to speed on exactly what they do.
Ofcom stands for the Office of Communications. It is the regulatory and competition authority for the UK's communications industries. It keeps an eye on mobile and home phone services, broadband, TV and radio, the postal service, and the airwaves to ensure that consumers get the most out of their services without being taken advantage of.
Reviewed by Phil Brown, founder of SIM Only Finder. About the author
Last reviewed: March 2026.
What does Ofcom do?
Ofcom is an independent body approved by the UK government to oversee communications services. Its job is to make sure that companies are operating competitively, fairly, and in the public interest. It monitors a range of aspects to ensure services are working as promised and that customers are getting a fair deal. In the mobile space, this encourages competition between networks and ensures a varied range of services are available to customers.
Ofcom and mobile networks
Ofcom is responsible for making sure mobile networks deliver on their promises. Networks found to breach requirements can face significant fines. Here is a breakdown of what Ofcom oversees in the mobile market:
Mobile network licensing
Ofcom regulates the airwaves in the UK. These airwaves carry mobile signals, and networks need a licence from Ofcom to access them. Licences are issued with specific conditions around area coverage and service quality, such as call reliability and data speed, which networks must adhere to.
Ensuring network coverage
Mobile networks must report their coverage data to Ofcom, which uses this information to produce coverage maps. Customers can use these maps to check which network has the best service in their area.
Ensuring service quality and consumer protection
Ofcom publishes reports on how mobile networks are performing so consumers can make informed choices. It looks at the reliability of calls, data speeds, and customer satisfaction. It also monitors pricing to ensure networks offer transparent costs with no hidden fees, makes it easier for customers to switch networks, and monitors roaming costs since the UK left the EU. It has also made calling 0800 numbers free and placed caps on 0845 number charges to reduce unexpected bills.
Competition
As the regulatory and competition authority, Ofcom works to ensure the market remains competitive and is not dominated by any single provider. This includes investigating mergers, such as the Vodafone and Three merger, to ensure they do not harm competition or limit the range of services available. Ofcom also oversees that mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) such as Tesco Mobile can access and operate on larger networks' infrastructure.
How has Ofcom made things better for consumers?
Text to switch: Ofcom's text-to-switch service makes it simple to change network and keep your number. Text PAC to 65075 to receive your switching code. Your current provider must also tell you about any remaining charges if you are exiting a contract early. The switch completes within one working day.
Ban on locked handsets: Ofcom banned the sale of locked handsets in December 2021, making it much easier for customers to move to a new provider with their existing phone.
Clearer cost breakdowns: Mobile networks must clearly show customers how much of their monthly contract payment goes towards the handset and how much goes towards calls, texts, and data. When signing up, customers must also be told how much an equivalent SIM-only plan would cost.
Rules on price rises: From January 2025, Ofcom required all new mobile contracts to show any annual price increases in pounds and pence rather than as a percentage linked to inflation. This makes it easier for customers to understand the true long-term cost of a plan before signing up.
Rules on roaming charges: Ofcom issued rules in October 2024 requiring networks to send roaming alerts to customers with clear details on charges and limits, and to remind customers that they can set spending limits before travelling.
Why is Ofcom important?
Ofcom's work protects consumers from being exploited by their mobile providers. By ensuring networks deliver on their promises and encouraging healthy competition, Ofcom helps mobile users benefit from better services and competitive pricing. As the body that accredits comparison websites like SIM Only Finder, Ofcom also plays a direct role in ensuring the comparison tools consumers use are accurate and impartial.
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