Landline telephone users across the Isle of Man are to set to pay higher charges from next month.
Manx Telecom is increasing the fixed line monthly line rental charge by an average of 3.3 per cent from September 1 (adding between 15p to 70p to the monthly bill depending on tariff), while the £1 discount for paying by direct debit is also being scrapped - except for customers who opt for paperless billing.
Marketing director David Smith insisted: ‘We believe when you benchmark prices with the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands, this is still really good value for money.’
Manx Telecom is currently the sole provider of fixed line services in the island - but it could be set to lose its monopoly over the the next year, with talks on-going with the Communications Commission and other operators.
Mr Smith said it was too early to say whether competition would drive prices down.
He said the MT had to cover the costs of maintaining and improving its fixed line network. Some £25 million has been invested to upgrade it over the last five years, while £100 million has been invested across all services over the last 10 years.