No 5G licences to be issued this year, despite States 2021 plans
GUERNSEY will not be issuing licences for 5G in 2023, contrary to the plan laid out in the States In 2021.
Jersey moved closer to enabling its 5G network last month, when the Jersey Competition and Regulatory Authority began the process of issuing licences to telecoms companies Sure and JT.
5G is the next generation of mobile technology that will bring up to 100 times faster download speeds than the current 4G network.
Alongside fibre broadband it is seen as critical to the island’s future economy.
Economic Development president Neil Inder said that his committee intended to bring a policy letter on a 5G licensing framework to the States by the end of this year.
‘If this is agreed by the States, the Guernsey Competition Regulatory Authority will develop a licensing process in 2024,’ he said.
‘It is expected that this will tie in with equipment upgrades across the networks, which have been announced by operators and are needed before the new licensing framework comes into effect.’
JT has teamed up with Ericsson as their network provider for rolling out 5G in
Jersey.
CEO Daragh McDermott said that the company needed a 5G licence before it could bring the technology to Guernsey.
‘We have been we’ve been pressing for it’, he said.
‘I would expect the licences to be issued during 2024.
‘But that’s a question for Economic Development and the GCRA.
‘Licences have been issued in Jersey, so we’re ready to roll out and switch on the network.
‘As soon as they [5G licences] are issued [in Guernsey], then we’ll be able to switch that element of the infrastructure on.’
Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority chief executive officer Michael Byrne said it was awaiting States guidance on the issuing of 5G licences.
‘5G spectrum is a valuable resource that is a critical enabler of next generation mobile services,’ he said.
‘There has been no policy decision by the States of Guernsey on the award of 5G which is the appropriate next step before an award process by the GCRA would proceed.
‘The States policy priorities inform the authority what minimum standards are appropriate to set and what the parameters for any award process might be.’
