Connectivity is guaranteed win
BROADBAND is essential to the economy and our daily lives. Of that there can be no doubt. The pandemic has also underscored the importance of internet access – from education to business to leisure and personal – like never before.
The web has ensured critical communications between friends and family have been maintained during the long hard months of lockdown and travel restrictions. It has kept our children educated. It has kept Guernsey plc running.
The experts also tell us that the pace of digital transformation has been accelerated by the pandemic. So the requirement for fast and stable broadband is only going to increase. Many of us may also have experienced connectivity issues from time to time. So, the demand from business and voters is there.
So, it is welcome news that discussions are continuing between telecoms chiefs and the States of Guernsey on broadband. A huge amount of work has been done by a States committee looking at the issue, Deputy Mark Helyar tells us, with the point reached where it is starting to think about reaching a conclusion. There is a recognition that high-speed broadband is a huge economic enabler and opens up new opportunities for Guernsey.
The new boss at telecoms company Sure has also painted an upbeat assessment of those ongoing discussions. Alistair Beak has said investment, including in faster broadband, is central to Sure and that its shareholders are supportive of the business – particularly of Guernsey which is Sure’s home market and headquarters.
Fibre, rather than 5G, could be the way forward when it comes to enhancing broadband services, the acting chief executive of the Sure Group signalled. Some announcements could be made in the next few months. Mr Beak also said Sure is hopeful of a ‘partnership’ with the government to build the island’s digital future.
A partnership approach could speed up delivery of high-speed and stable broadband, which will be a political and economic decision if taxpayer money is involved. It will need careful consideration, and islanders will look with great interest as to the conclusion of discussions on broadband. As they will to any implementation phase. But both planning for and investing in our broadband infrastructure is a must – and if done right it will be a vote, customer and business winner.