5G to be debated this month

Tuesday 18 February 2020

Deputies behind an attempt to get the future of 5G technology debated are pushing for a binding commitment that Economic Development's policy letter will come back to the States for the final seal of approval.

A requête has been submitted by seven Deputies who want Economic Development to submit a policy letter, before the end of this States term, detailing its recommended policy on 5G technology.

The committee told Deputies in October last year such a debate would not be needed because of the incremental approach they were taking.

Since the requête was submitted to get the issue back on the States agenda, Economic Development President Charles Parkinson has contacted the requerants saying it was now his committee's intent to publish a policy letter before the end of the year.

Pictured: Deputy de Sausmarez's requête calls for a debate on Economic Development's approach to 5G technology in the island. 

However Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, who is leading efforts to have it debated, has confirmed to Express that she will proceed with the requête anyway, in pursuit of a binding commitment from the committee and its successor. 

"The requêrants are unanimous in the view that we should still lay the requête for two reasons," she told Deputy Parkinson. 

"First of all, no one doubts that your intent is sincere, but there is of course an election between now and the end of 2020 and there is no knowing whether the Committee for Economic Development as of July will share that intent. We therefore think that a States resolution would be the only way to ensure the policy letter is brought to the Assembly for debate.

"The second reason is that we think a debate would be helpful in guiding CfED with respect to what people think should be covered in that policy letter."

The requête is due to be debated at the meeting starting 26 February.