THE island is benefiting from a thriving and competitive telecommunications market. Cable & Wireless pointed out the value and innovation of its service in the face of continued criticism of commercialisation, led by Deputy Dave Jones.

The company has launched more than 30 new services since 2002 and is investing more than £30m. in the Channel Islands.

‘The latest developments are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the benefits we are delivering to our Guernsey customers,’ said the company’s commercial director, Mark Briers.

‘We are revolutionising telecommunications for our customers, with Project Hugo and Super 3G mobile just the latest examples. They are just part of our £30m. investment as we aim to become the leading provider of telecommunications in the Channel Islands.’

He added that while the Guernsey market had been open to competition since 2003, other Channel Island customers did not have the same benefits.

C&W said that Jersey Telecom had taken two years to provide the necessary network interconnection for competitors to enter the market there.

Mr Briers welcomed the States’ decision at the last meeting to amend slightly the remit of the Office of Utility Regulation.

‘We’ve consistently supported proportionate regulation and regulation that provides a reasonable degree of certainty when making multi-million pound investments,’ he said.

Wave Telecom managing director Tim Ringsdore also backed the States’ decision supporting the continual need for an independent and impartial approach to regulation.

Commercialisation critics claim the island has not benefited from an improved service as promise and believe Guernsey Telecoms was not sold off, but given away, in the deal with C&W.

Deputy Jones, who wants to see political representatives on the boards of the commercialised utilities, said that there was regret in the island that Guernsey Telecoms was ever sold.