The UK’s postal regulator has proposed easing the Royal Mail’s obligations, allowing the company to make fewer deliveries as the group prepares for new ownership under Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský.

Britain's Ofcom has proposed changes to Royal Mail's obligations including so-called second-class letters delivered on alternate weekdays instead of Saturdays, the regulator said on Thursday. The Royal Mail,

The communications watchdog says its research shows people are more willing to accept reduced quality service than price rises to fund better services, and want reliability and affordability more than they want speed.

Ofcom has also outlined plans to lower Royal Mail's delivery targets, reducing the next-day delivery rate for first-class mail from 93% to 90% and the three-day delivery rate for second-class mail from 98.5% to 95%. The cuts would save Royal Mail between £250 million and £425 million a year, according to Ofcom.

Regulator Ofcom has said it is proposing to scrap second class letter deliveries on Saturdays and reduce the service to be on alternate weekdays, while also lowering Royal Mail’s delivery targets. It comes as Almost 11 million people were hit with letter post delays over Christmas, according to Citizens Advice.