Telecoms chiefs summoned to No10 for cost of living meeting

SENIOR telecoms executives have been summoned to Downing Street to discuss the cost of living crisis after millions of households faced inflation-busting price increases for broadband services.

In a meeting hosted by Nadine Dorries, the Culture Secretary, next Monday, industry leaders will be asked for suggestions on how to help struggling customers with rising bills.

Senior figures from BT, Vodafone, Virgin Media O2, Three, Talktalk, Sky and others have been invited to the discussion at No10, The Daily Telegraph understands.

It comes after some of the companies, including BT, Vodafone and O2, recently imposed above-inflation price increases on customers.

Ms Dorries wrote to broadband providers in April, urging them to get more low-income families on to “social tariffs”. While an estimated 5m households in receipt of benefits are eligible to receive these cut-price deals, only 55,000 have taken them up, she said.

A DCMS spokesman said: “We are looking at bringing together the UK’S telecoms leaders to explore how the industry can work together with the Government to support consumers through the global rise in the cost of living.”

However, one industry source was dismissive, saying: “All of this will probably result in a press release so the Government can say ‘we are doing stuff on cost of living’ while not actually changing much.”

Those set to attend the meeting include Ahmed Essam, boss of Vodafone UK; Tristia Harrison, chief executive of Talktalk; and Clive Selley, head of BT’S infrastructure business, Openreach, according to a list seen by the Telegraph. Ofcom, the communications regulator, will also be represented.

Companies have been criticised for inflation-busting broadband price rises. O2 added 3.9pc to February’s retail price index (RPI) inflation rate of 7.8pc, for an 11.7pc rise. BT and Vodafone added 3.9pc to December’s consumer prices index, which was 5.4pc, resulting in a price rise of 9.3pc.