‘Regulations needed for next generation technology’

The Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities has published its strategic objectives and work programme for 2019.

It includes getting measures in place to facilitate technological developments, as directed by government policy.

‘The Channel Islands need a legal and regulatory framework which will facilitate the development of next generation connectivity (5G),’ the report said.

‘This new technology will not just enhance mobile broadband services, it will also support the internet of things as well as more reliable, highly responsive wireless developments.

‘The developments that feature in other jurisdictions include driverless cars and smarter production processes and the question whether these or other developments might apply to the Channel Islands will be considered under this initiative. This new technology will require investment in infrastructure in order to achieve benefits in a timely way.

‘These developments and work streams will be significantly influenced by government policy.’

Economic Development published a telecoms strategy in June outlining its primary objectives.

It set out plans to make Guernsey ‘one of the most digitally connected places on earth’, with 85% of the population having 100Mbps high-quality broadband within two to three years.

‘Cicra will provide appropriate incentives to ensure transparency of the wholesale roadmaps of the incumbent operators that are in line with government policy (e.g. superfast broadband to residential properties in Guernsey within three years) and in line with expectations of wholesale customers in both islands,’ the report said.

‘In Guernsey, Cicra will develop the regulations to enable government to provide direct support where the wholesale business case is uneconomic, and the telecommunications companies have made all reasonable steps to meet government targets.’

The regulator will also take steps to support customers.

‘Consumer satisfaction is a vital gauge of the quality of market outcomes and whether markets are working well,’ the regulator said.

‘Whilst the Channel Islands are less likely to achieve as great a degree of competition and choice as such larger economies, local providers should be able to achieve comparable consumer satisfaction levels as arguably their smaller scale should be an advantage over providers in larger jurisdictions.

‘Cicra research continues to show that the widest gap in customer perception between the Channel Islands and the UK is for broadband services. As more consumers rely on these services and data demand increases, this is an area of concern.’

The Guernsey arm of the regulator gets £140,000-worth of States funding per year.