Phone companies to be banned from selling handsets ‘locked’ to specific networks

Companies such as O2 will be unable to sell locked phones (Getty)

Phone companies will no longer be able to sell devices that are “locked” to specific networks, the regulator has ruled.

Until now, networks have been able to ensure phones can only work with their own service, meaning that users cannot switch even when their contract is over.

But now networks such as BT, EE, O2, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone will be told to only sell phones that customers will be able to use on other networks.

Some companies already offer their phones unlocked, so that they can be used with any network.

But now companies will be forced to do it from December 2021, Ofcom said.

Selina Chadha, Ofcom’s connectivity director, said: “We know that lots of people can be put off from switching because their handset is locked.

“So we’re banning mobile companies from selling locked phones, which will save people time, money and effort – and help them unlock better deals.”

Currently, companies still sell mobile phones that cannot be used on other networks unless they are unlocked.

Customers can unlock their phones, although it costs money to do so.

Ofcom said it expects widespread compliance with the new rules, and companies breaking them risk being slapped with heavy fines.

Additional reporting by agencies