WAVE TELECOM may not meet its mobile phone licence obligations in time. The Office of Utility Regulation has been asked to settle an ongoing dispute between the company and Cable & Wireless.

Wave is required to have 80% demographic cover by the end of the month, but is in disagreement over two separate issues.

‘Despite months of negotiations, these issues remain unresolved and Wave now has no choice but to ask the OUR to intervene,’ said Wave managing director Tim Ringsdore.

‘These setbacks threaten our ability to fulfil our licence obligations within the required time frame.’

Wave claims that C&W is being obstructive by insisting the former purchases capacity it does not require from shared mast sites. The fledgling company also believes C&W is in breach of its fixed- licence conditions over providing interconnection.

Wave was awarded second- and third-generation mobile licences more than a year ago.

‘We have invested heavily in the Bailiwick and remain determined to establish our mobile network and bring choice and value to the island.’

C&W rejected the claims and said that negotiations had taken longer than expected due to Wave frequently changing its requirements.

‘We have constantly responded on the issue of mast sharing but it is not possible to progress without definitive requirements,’ said a C&W spokesman.

‘When these are finally provided, we will be able to finalise arrangements with the appropriate suppliers and authorities to ensure that mast sharing can go ahead.’

The company claimed that Wave was erecting more aerials than necessary when it could use the current network. It also denied being in breach of its licence conditions and said it needed clarification from Wave about the network topology used.

‘The number of changes and different demands made by Wave in relation to the interconnect link has been constantly surprising to us.’

The dispute comes as a further blow to Wave.

Last week, its applications to install two temporary mobile sites near Sylvans Football Club and Fort Road, St Peter Port, were rejected by the Island Development Committee.

‘Wave clearly has issues to resolve,’ said the C&W spokesman.

‘Cable & Wireless Guernsey is not responsible for this.’

A spokesman for the OUR said it could not comment at this stage.