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Sure and its Guernsey Chief Executive are standing by its fibre roll-out figures after the Chief Executive of JT publicly stated that he doesn’t believe the numbers.
The telco bosses initially disagreed over the accuracy of the local roll-out statistics at an Institute of Directors breakfast event discussing the benefits of fibre-optics last Friday.
The project to establish an island-wide fibre-optic broadband network has moved from an initial 75 properties being fibre ready at the end of 2021 to nearly a quarter of Guernsey’s homes by the end of this year, according to Sure.
Justin Bellinger, Chief Executive of Sure Guernsey, said homes are currently becoming fibre ready at a rate of 700 per month, and this rate will continue going forward as part of the “very ambitious programme”.
But he accepted that whilst fibre is now running past thousands of homes, “the challenge now is connecting people”. One third of properties passed by the new fibre network have now connected, according to Mr Bellinger, who added that he was “very confident” the project can be completed a year ahead of schedule in 2025.
Daragh McDermott, CEO of JT Group, highlighted throughout the event that “there’s a big difference between [fibre] connections and [fibre] running past… the key number is actually how many are connected”.
He also suggested that “more transparency on that number” is needed in Guernsey because “fundamentally you need to have fibre everywhere”.
Pictured: Justin Bellinger.
When challenged for “rude” and “confrontational” comments by an audience member, Mr McDermott again stated: “I don’t believe those numbers”, later adding that figures seen by JT suggest around 1,600 homes have formally connected to the network, which is not a third of 7,000.
Mr Bellinger responded saying that Sure is “audited by government every single month – we get paid a subsidy by government for every home we pass and every home we connect… those stats are backed up, I’m not making them up”.
Sure later responded to Express’ questions on the accuracy of its fibre figures saying: “We’re proud to be rolling out a future-proof fibre network that will enable the community to thrive. 700 homes become fibre ready each month with very nearly a quarter of island homes set to have access to fibre by the end of this year.
“We’re pleased with the way that our business and that of our local partners has scaled during the first year of the project and are confident that this momentum will be maintained throughout the rest of the programme.”
JT declined to comment on Express’ questions after the event.
Pictured: Daragh McDermott.
Tensions also surfaced between the speed of changing customers onto the new network in Jersey and Guernsey respectively.
Mr Bellinger said that some groups, such as Vale Age Concern, are nervous about the change from copper to fibre, and that “maybe you don’t need to force everyone to connect right away”.
Mr McDermott said characterising Jersey’s approach to connecting people as “aggressive” is “completely wrong”.
Michael Byrne, Chief Executive of the Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority, who was in the audience, noted that consumer choice is “the big thing” and that people, especially those who are struggling, should be looked after first.
He later told Express: “Prior to the fibre rollout commencing, the GCRA wrote to Sure in September 2021 to emphasise the importance of establishing a clear process for engagement and a commitment to a high standard of communication.
“Sure responded positively to that and in the interest of proportionate regulation the GCRA has maintained a watching brief on the fibre rollout process, which is in a very early stage, over 2022.
“There was much to commend the process adopted by Sure of not mandating customers to take higher priced broadband services as not everyone wants or can afford them.
“The GCRA has been reviewing whether the extent and quality of information about the rollout that is being provided to other broadband retailers is sufficient and if it can be improved, we will of course engage with stakeholders to that end.
“Another theme of the IOD discussion also deserves emphasis, which is that telecom providers and the regulator can work to deliver an advanced technology platform for Guernsey households and business but ultimately the value to all of us is about how we as a society and as a business community take advantage of the opportunity this presents.”
You can watch the IoD fibre event HERE.
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