STAFF fear jobs could be lost at Cable & Wireless following the company’s likely failure to secure a 3G mobile phone licence. Connect, the communications professionals’ union, was shocked by the Office of Utility Regulation’s decision to award the second 3G licence to Indian Continent Investment Ltd – a subsidiary of telecoms giant Bharti Global.

‘The union’s members are shocked and deeply concerned at the decision of the Office of Utility Regulation’s licence award process which could lead to a decision not to award a 3G licence to C&W in Guernsey,’ said Connect, which represents most of the firm’s local employees.

In a letter published in Tuesday’s Guernsey Press, C&W commercial director Mark Briers argued that the OUR had failed to create a level playing field with its decision. He felt it had turned the allocation of the licence into a ‘beauty parade’-style competition.

‘C&W is happy to compete with two or three other operators in Guernsey if that is what the OUR feels is right for the Bailiwick,’ said Mr Briers.

‘All we ask is that this must be on a level playing field. The approach taken by the OUR in this regard is perverse and we fail to see how the introduction of this form of biased competition is of any benefit to the Bailiwick as a whole.’

The OUR said it was unable to comment until the 3G licence had been formally granted.

Connect’s general secretary Adrian Askew has written to Chief Minister Laurie Morgan outlining the potential impact the decision will have on jobs and on the wider community if C&W fails to win a 3G licence.

The union fears that without such a licence, C&W would be unable to compete or survive in the future of telecommunications, which will revolve around 3G.

Connect believes there is the available spectrum for a third 3G licence in Guernsey and wants the OUR to offer it to C&W.