Sure supports community with connectivity

Monday 23 March 2020

In response to the corona virus crisis, Sure is introducing a number of connectivity measures to support the local community.

Customers currently using the basic broadband service will be offered a free upgrade to the provider's standard service, doubling speed from an average of 16Mbps to 34Mbps until the end of June.

Those customers can visit sure.com/faster to check availability and apply online.

Meanwhile, the who use a Piper Lifeline service or are on the Telephone Assistance Scheme will have free local landline calls 24 hours a day. This will automatically be applied to their accounts from 10 April to 30 June.

Mobile and landline calls to the States of Guernsey's covid-19 advice lines have been made free of charge.

Pictured: Ian Kelly.

Any Guernsey residents who are unable to return from overseas because of the outbreak will also be supported, with free roaming boosters and discounted roaming rates, to ensure they can stay in contact with family and friends. Those customers should get in touch with Sure directly.

 The provider's landlines already include feee calls to other local landlines every weekday between 18:00 and 08:00 and all day on weekends.

"With many islanders now being required to work from home, self isolating and practicing social distancing to help protect the wider community, we understand the importance connectivity will have to ensure we can all stay in touch and keep informed and local businesses can continue operation," said CEO of the Sure Group, Ian Kelly.

"We've introduced these connectivity measures to support the local community and hope these will help to make this difficult time a little bit easier. We will, of course, continue to monitor the situation as it evolves and will introduce additional measures to support islanders as required.

"Everyone at Sure is working hard to ensure all islanders can continue to access the national critical communication infrastructure the we provide across the Bailiwick. We have the procedures in place to maintain the resilience and capability of our networks and our operations and we are confident that the infrastructure can cope with the inevitable change in demand for phone and internet services.

"This is a worrying time for everyone and we are here to support our island communities as best we can. I'd like to thank our customers for their ongoing support and our employees for their hard work in keeping the islands connected."

Details of the new measures can be found here.

More information and advice on the virus is available here.