Pictured: “The Competition Law includes a mechanism for the States to provide an exemption exactly for this kind of scenario, where the wider economic benefits outweigh any concerns around the impact on competition within the market,” said Deputy Inder in June.

"The Committee for Economic Development is aware of the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority’s provisional finding," he said. 

"This provisional finding will now be subject to a period of further consultation that extends beyond the States debate in Guernsey later this month, and it is clear to the Committee that Sure and Airtel will need to focus on these developments in Jersey. As such, the Committee will be deferring its policy letter on the acquisition pending the resolution of the process in Jersey."

Sure - which is headquartered in Guernsey but ultimately owned by Bahrain Telecommunications Company - made a raft of promises that would have been built into its licence with the GCRA. 

Those promises included a commitment to retaining Airtel’s Base plan for at least 36 months after the acquisition, and for the telecom provider to relinquish spectrum to make sure it doesn’t have an unfair advantage over any future competition.  

The telecom provider also said if the transaction is approved “Sure will invest up to £37million in Guernsey”. 

Pictured: Mr Beak, CEO of Sure Group. 

Despite any deals agreed in Guernsey, the purchase needs regulatory approval in Jersey, where the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) is still being used.  

In its first review of the proposed sale, the JCRA identified some ways that the deal could damage competition in the retail mobile market, including the risk that JT and the combined entity could unilaterally raise prices or reduce the quality of their services. 

Sarah Price, Chief Operating Officer at the JCRA, said: “Mergers and acquisitions can bring many benefits to an economy, introducing new management skills and investment, and in many cases, improvements in efficiency through economies of scope and scale. 

"However, they may also lessen competition and it is therefore appropriate that we thoroughly investigate and consider all of the factors, including the market before merger and the likely impact post-merger." 

The JCRA can approve or reject the deal but it also has the right to permit it with conditions.  

It hasn't announced its decision yet but it is thought likely the deal will be blocked in Jersey.