"No other technology has impacted us like the mobile phone."
Codes of Practice
Published jointly by the mobile network operators.
Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England
The current version of the Code of Best Practice was published on 7th March 2022.
Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development in Wales
The current version of the Code of Best Practive was published on 10th March 2021.
Scottish Government Planning Guidance: Digital Telecommunications
The current version of this document was published on 20th December 2023
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Self-regulation of content on mobiles
In January 2004, the UK mobile operators published a code of practice for the self-regulation of new forms of content on mobiles. Formal reviews were conducted in 2009 and 2013. The third version was published on 1st July 2013.
In accordance with the code, each mobile operator offers an Internet filter to protect customers under the age of 18 from age inappropriate content. The mobile operator sets its filter in accordance with a framework prepared by the British Board of Film Classification ("BBFC").
If a customer is not satisfied with the way the filter has been set, i.e. it is not filtering content that should be filtered or it is filtering content that, in the customer's view, should not be filtered, he or she should first take the matter up with his or her mobile operator. A list of contacts is provided here. If the customer disagrees with the response of the mobile operator, who has up to 5 days to respond, the matter can be referred to the BBFC for resolution. A customer can only take a complaint to the BBFC once the issue has been investigated by the mobile operator.
Download PDF of this Code here...UK Mobile Operators' Charter on crime reduction for mobile devices
In 2015, the UK’s mobile operators EE, Telefonica UK (O2), Three and Vodafone, updated the charter to combat theft of mobile devices.
UK Mobile Operators' Code of Practice on Consumer Billing
In March 2015, the UK’s mobile operators EE, Telefonica UK (O2), Three and Vodafone, together with Virgin Mobile, the UK’s largest virtual mobile network operator, published Code of Practice on Consumer Billing.
This Code sets out the commitments agreed by the signatories to help customers manage their costs and protect contract customers from unexpectedly high bills.
Principles of Good Practice for marketing mobile broadband services
In June 2009, the UK’s mobile operators O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone and 3, together with Virgin Mobile, the UK’s largest virtual mobile network operator, published Principles of Good Practice for marketing mobile broadband services.
Location services
In September 2004, an industry working group, led by the MBG, published a Code of Practice for the use of mobile phone technology for passive location services in the UK.
Location Service Providers wishing to apply to operate a location service can do so on a standard form which is available here. This version was published in November 2008.
Download PDF of this Code here...
