By the end of the year, only some 50 properties will be unable to connect to fibre, said Sure Group CEO Alistair Beak.
‘They’re at the end of a line, basically. They’re just uneconomic to connect up – it would be tens of thousands of pounds.’
Should these properties’ owners want fibre, they will be asked to contribute towards the cost.
‘They could have access to fibre if they wanted to make a contribution to the connection, but it’s going to be significant amounts.’
An alternative is being offered in the form of wireless connection to the 5G network, which Mr Beak said would provide a major increase in broadband speeds for these customers who, because of their location, are likely to be getting very low speeds at the moment.
While 99% of the island can access fibre, about 95% of those properties have chosen to connect so far, including some where internet access is not wanted.
Eventually the old copper network will be switched off so Sure is once again urging those who have access to fibre to get connected.
‘We have written to customers and said we will be disconnecting you,’ said Mr Beak.
‘We are doing it in a community- driven way as much as possible and we absolutely don’t want to cut people off, but ultimately we will switch off the copper services.
‘Some customers have been through that process because we’ve been decommissioning some of the copper in their areas.’
Letters have been written to customers who are at risk of losing their connection completely, and there have also been in-person visits from staff.
‘We’re writing multiple letters, we’re knocking on doors,’ said Mr Beak.
‘We’ve always got to be responsible in the way that we do this as well, because there could be elderly or vulnerable people in those homes, and I think there are some people who just don’t want you to come into their home.’
The Guernsey Fibre project involves a £37.5m. investment in a full-fibre broadband network.
The project launched in 2022 and is being carried out by Sure, in partnership with the States, which is providing funding of up to £12.5m.
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