PROPOSALS to open up the telecoms marketplace by awarding a 3G licence to Cable and Wireless are to be welcomed and come none too soon.

It was always nonsensical for the island’s longest-established telecoms provider to be restricted in this way. While there is an argument that C&W’s overconfidence that it would get a licence played a part in its downfall, its customers did not deserve to lose out.

Coming on top of mobile number portability, and the power that gives to consumers to shop around for the best deal, it is clear that the playing field is starting to level out in this complicated industry.

Frequency spectrum – another daunting phrase for the layman – appears to be the next positive move. The Office of Utility Regulation is demanding that C&W gives up some of its 2G dominance to Airtel as part of the deal. This would leave all three mobile operators with access to the three relevant bandwidths and able to provide 2G and 3G services.

From a consumer’s point of view – and the mobile companies are at least publicly supportive of all these moves – that is as it should be. Greater equality of opportunity across the three companies should bring improved service and pricing.

What none of this must lead to are more mobile masts and extra antennae on existing masts. Islanders will breathe a sigh of relief at that news, regardless of whether they think 3G is just the latest boy band to enter the download charts.

For those people, mobile phones are simply handy ways of talking to other people. The value of mobile internet access, emails, video calling and music downloads then becomes rather hard to justify.

*It is odds on that one of the main topics of mobile conversation this bank holiday weekend will be sport.

With a forecast of fair weather, the island should enjoy one of its busiest and best weekends including the men’s and women’s Muratti, rugby’s Siam Cup, the hill climb and L’Ancresse horse racing.

Good luck to all our sportsmen and women.