FIRMER action should have been taken by the regulator when Guernsey Airtel again breached its licence agreement, says rival operator Sure. The Office of Utility Regulation announced yesterday that Airtel had breached the conditions of its mobile licences by failing to launch services by 15 December.
That was despite the company having been given a three-month extension to the original deadline of 15 September. A further extension has been granted until 31 March.
Sure Mobile marketing director Mark Briers said consumers would lose out and that it is was disappointing firmer action had not been taken.
‘We’ve not yet had a chance to read the full report, but are disappointed that it appears Guernsey Airtel has effectively been granted a further extension instead of being subject to penalties for letting down the people of Guernsey before it has even launched,’ he said.
‘The finding that it has breached its licence conditions was a foregone conclusion given that it failed to meet the launch deadline and as a result customers are still being denied 3G competition. Customers are the losers here and firmer action could have been taken in their interests.’
Mr Briers said Sure also applied for a 3G licence in 2005, but the OUR awarded it to Guernsey Airtel. Sure had committed to launching services by December 2006.
‘We set out in our application that we would work with Nokia to provide the latest 3G mobile network, which would have been available by December 2006 and without the need for additional masts,’ he said. ‘We also set out clear financial penalties that we would have incurred had we failed to meet this schedule. It is now more than 12 months later and the latest deadline is still nearly three months away.
‘The people missing out most in all of this are customers who have chosen Sure as their mobile provider and could have had access to 3G services a year ago but are still denied that choice,’ said Mr Briers.
Wave Telecom holds the other 3G licence for the Bailiwick.
Managing director Tim Ringsdore said: ‘I have to say that I am a little surprised they ‘Guernsey Airtel’ have not achieved their target,’ he said.
‘The criteria set were very similar to what we had to achieve when we were given our licence agreement.
‘Blaming it on the planning process is a little bit flat in that we managed to achieve that.’
Mr Ringsdore said there were complications involved in setting up telecommunications anywhere in the world.
‘This is down to the planning process put in place,’ he said.
‘I don’t have any sympathy with Airtel not hitting its target. I do sympathise with Cable & Wireless on the basis Airtel was given its licence under the agreement of its launch date.’
OUR director-general John Curran said he could not comment on whether 31 March was the absolute last chance for Airtel to deliver.
‘This is a matter for Airtel to comment on as to whether it might appeal any future direction,’ he said.
‘From the OUR’s perspective, we have set out a deadline by which we expect the service to be launched and it is a matter for Airtel to ensure it complies with this direction.’
He said the OUR had no role in or influence over the planning process.
‘The OUR’s concern at this stage is that mobile users get the benefit from extra competition as soon as possible and the direction to Airtel is intended to ensure this happens.
‘While we are aware that Airtel has worked closely with the Environment Department on planning issues associated with its network, this is very much an issue between Airtel and the department.’
Article posted on 12th January, 2008 - 12.00am
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