CABLE & WIRELESS mobile phone users in Guernsey cannot receive text messages from Wave and Jersey Telecom phones. C&W claimed that Wave and its parent company cut off the service without notice after experiencing technical difficulties.

But Wave has denied that. It said that the problem had been caused by C&W’s refusal to accept messages from the two companies over the same link.

It is the latest in a series of spats between the two mobile operators.

The Office of Utility Regulation said that it was aware of the suspension of the service and was working with both parties to solve the dispute as a matter of urgency.

‘We understand that Wave and Jersey Telecom have experienced major problems following the launch of Wave’s service. Due to these problems, they have turned off text messaging to C&W customers without any prior notice,’ said C&W marketing manager Steve Eldridge.

‘The Wave network has been built using infrastructure from its parent company, Jersey Telecom. We have always had concerns about this, which we made clear to Wave from the outset.

‘Wave chose not to carry out tests on SMS prior to launch, despite our recommendations to do so. It now seems it has no way of distinguishing text messages sent by a Wave mobile from those sent from a Jersey Telecom mobile. The result is it has turned the service off.’

Wave said that C&W’s version of what had gone wrong was ‘factually inaccurate’.

It said the problems currently being experienced stem from C&W’s refusal to accept messages from Wave and Jersey over the same link.

‘There are what we believe minor issues yet to be resolved between us concerning how texts are delivered from Wave to C&W,’ said Wave managing director Tim Ringsdore.

‘We have offered them three alternative technical solutions, all of which are standard practice throughout the world and all of which they’ve rejected.’

Wave has asked the OUR to help broker discussions with C&W to solve the problem.

‘We see no reason why customers on both networks should continue to suffer and be prevented from texting each other, while these issues are dealt with.’

An OUR spokesman said it was trying to resolve the dispute quickly.

‘We recognise that text messaging is a hugely popular mobile service and its non-availability is an inconvenience.’

Wave has admitted failing to carry out some tests on its service but said that sufficient research had already been carried out.

‘Historically, C&W specified all tests required for Wave to launch a fully-functioning service,’ said Mr Ringsdore.

‘These tests were carried out successfully. Less than a week before our network launched, C&W requested further testing for text messaging. It was so late in the day, we were unhappy to conduct any further testing as we felt it would jeopardise our launch.’

Wave also denied that problems were related to shared elements of the Jersey Telecom network. It said its licence was granted on the basis of a full disclosure of how its network operated and added that it had not breached any agreement or licence obligation.