<p>British mobile operators will be barred from selling smartphones locked to their networks, regulator Ofcom said on Tuesday, a change designed to remove a barrier to switching networks for some customers.</p>.<p>Companies including BT/EE, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone sell phones that cannot be used on other networks unless they have been unlocked, a potentially complex process that can cost about 10 pounds ($13), Ofcom said.</p>.<p>The ban will come into effect in December 2021.</p>.<p>O2, Sky, Three and Virgin Media sell unlocked devices to their customers.</p>.<p>The move is part of a package of measures designed to ensure customers are treated fairly and to make switching easier, Ofcom said.</p>.<p>It said it would consult on proposals to make it easier to switch from fixed-line broadband providers that use Openreach's copper network to those that use completely separate networks, such as Virgin Media, CityFibre, Gigaclear or Hyperoptic.</p>
<p>British mobile operators will be barred from selling smartphones locked to their networks, regulator Ofcom said on Tuesday, a change designed to remove a barrier to switching networks for some customers.</p>.<p>Companies including BT/EE, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone sell phones that cannot be used on other networks unless they have been unlocked, a potentially complex process that can cost about 10 pounds ($13), Ofcom said.</p>.<p>The ban will come into effect in December 2021.</p>.<p>O2, Sky, Three and Virgin Media sell unlocked devices to their customers.</p>.<p>The move is part of a package of measures designed to ensure customers are treated fairly and to make switching easier, Ofcom said.</p>.<p>It said it would consult on proposals to make it easier to switch from fixed-line broadband providers that use Openreach's copper network to those that use completely separate networks, such as Virgin Media, CityFibre, Gigaclear or Hyperoptic.</p>