Royal Mail could reduce the number of days it delivers letters from six per week to five or even three, under proposals to reform the service.
A report from the regulator said the postal service was “getting out of date” and action needed to be taken.
Ofcom said another option would be extending the number of days it takes for most letters to be delivered.
Ofcom said another option would be extending the number of days it takes for most letters to be delivered.
The company, which was privatised between 2013 and 2015, is legally obliged to deliver a universal service, which means it currently has to deliver letters six days per week, Monday to Saturday, and parcels Monday to Friday.
But in recent years, the volume of letters being posted has plummeted, with half the number being sent compared to 2011 levels, while parcel deliveries have become more popular – and more profitable.
Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s chief executive, said the options for reform were being put out for “national discussion”, with an update scheduled for the summer.
“Something’s got to give, or the service is going to be too costly and either stamp prices will go up or it will become unsustainable,” she told BBC Breakfast.
The government said earlier this week that it would not support Royal Mail scrapping postal deliveries on Saturdays, with the prime minister’s spokesman arguing they were “important for businesses and particularly publishers”.
Royal Mail could reduce the number of days it delivers letters from six per week to five or even three, under proposals to reform the service.
Ofcom said another option would be extending the number of days it takes for most letters to be delivered.
A report from the regulator said the postal service was “getting out of date” and action needed to be taken.
The company, which was privatised between 2013 and 2015, is legally obliged to deliver a universal service, which means it currently has to deliver letters six days per week, Monday to Saturday, and parcels Monday to Friday.
Ofcom said another option would be extending the number of days it takes for most letters to be delivered.
Ofcom said another option would be extending the number of days it takes for most letters to be delivered.
The company, which was privatised between 2013 and 2015, is legally obliged to deliver a universal service, which means it currently has to deliver letters six days per week, Monday to Saturday, and parcels Monday to Friday.
But in recent years, the volume of letters being posted has plummeted, with half the number being sent compared to 2011 levels, while parcel deliveries have become more popular – and more profitable.
Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s chief executive, said the options for reform were being put out for “national discussion”, with an update scheduled for the summer.
“Something’s got to give, or the service is going to be too costly and either stamp prices will go up or it will become unsustainable,” she told BBC Breakfast.
The government said earlier this week that it would not support Royal Mail scrapping postal deliveries on Saturdays, with the prime minister’s spokesman arguing they were “important for businesses and particularly publishers”.
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