Telecommunications in Jersey

The services of communication in Jersey comprise Internet, telephone, broadcasting and postal services, which allow islanders to contact people and receive information.

Internet

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As of 2018, three companies provide fixed-line services to the island -

  • Jersey Telecom (JT), who operate island's fixed-line network;
  • Sure, whose services are based on wholesale access to JT's infrastructure; and
  • Newtel, who focus on business customers and also use JT's infrastructure.[1]: 11–2 

As all services are based on JT's infrastructure, there is limited competition. Nevertheless, islanders enjoy average fixed broadband download speedswhich outstrip the UK and other small countries.[1] As of 2021, Jersey has the highest broadband speeds of any country in the world, with an average rate of 274.27 Mbit/s, compared with Liechtenstein, which only had speeds of 211.26 Mbit/s, and the global average of just 9.10 Mbit/s.[2][3]

JT has dominance over the broadband sector, with 68% broadband market share in 2015, however this is declining relative to the competition. In terms of value for money on high-speed internet services, Jersey broadband consumers pay lower prices than nations like Bermuda, but higher prices than in the UK or the Isle of Man, but for lower-speed services islanders pay far lower prices than other small islands (and less than UK consumers).[1]

Jersey broadband services market share[1]
2012 2016
JT 78% 68%
Sure 13% 27%
Newtel 9% 5%

Internet connectivity to the rest of the world is provided by undersea cables linked to Guernsey, the UK and France. In 2016, a ship – believed to be the King Arthur owned by Mediterranea di Navigazione – dragging its anchor on the seabed in the English Channel cut the three main internet cables to Jersey and Guersey. As a result, all communications traffic had to travel via cables to France.[4]

Mobile telephones

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Jersey is part of the UK's National Telephone Numbering Plan, which means the island shares the UK's international dialling code +44.[5]

4G license operators in the island are obligated to provide a 2 Mbit/s download speed to 95% of the island population 90% of the time. In 2016, the island had 95% 4G coverage and higher average mobile data speeds than (7 major cities in) the UK.[1]

In 2020, JT retains the majority mobile market share of 52%, compared with 24% for Airtel-Vodafone and 23% for Sure, the island's other mobile operators.[6] In 2020, there were 124,262 mobile subscriptions, of which 2,845 were mobile only.[6]

Mobile data prices are lower in Jersey than other similarly sized countries, such as Bermuda and Malta, but slightly higher than the major operators in the UK.[1] In 2020, the following mobile usage statistics were recorded: 202.0 million mobile minutes, 48.3 million SMS messages and 9.56 million GB of data used.

Landline telephones

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Jersey is part of the UK's National Telephone Numbering Plan, which means the island shares the UK's international dialling code +44. Landline telephone numbers have the area code (0)1534.[5]

Postal service

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Future

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The Government of Jersey has a telecommunications development strategy called A telecoms strategy for Jersey.[1]

Telephony

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Addressing

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Jersey is incorporated into the UK National Telephone Numbering Plan, using the following area codes:

Fixed line

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Fixed PSTN lines in use; approx 57,700 (2009).[citation needed]

Mobile cellular

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With over 120 mobile phone masts, in 2012,[8] spread across its 119 km2 (46 sq mi) area, the island has a phone mast density almost five times that of the United Kingdom as a whole but similar to any urban area.

Telephony system and infrastructure

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Domestic

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Jersey Telecom:

Connectivity

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Mass media

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Radio

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Digital DAB+ broadcasts started in Jersey on 1 August 2021.[12]

Radio broadcast stations

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Radio receiver adoption and usage

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Not available

Television

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Television broadcast stations

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Cable television

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Satellite television

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Television set adoption and usage

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Not available

Internet service providers (ISPs)

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Oxera (January 2018). A telecoms strategy for Jersey. Government of Jersey (gov.je) [Accessed: 27 February 2022].
  2. ^ "Island claims top spot in global broadband speed". Jersey Evening Post. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Worldwide Broadband Speed League 2021". Cable.co.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Ship's anchor severs Jersey's undersea internet cables". BBC News. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b "01534 | Jersey Area Code | The Phone Book from BT". thephonebook.bt.com. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b GCRA; JCRA (2020). Telecommunications Statistics and Market Report 2020. Statistics Jersey (gov.je) [Accessed: 27 February 2022].
  7. ^ "Our history". JT Global. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Mobile phone base stations and masts". States of Jersey. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  9. ^ "System X Restoration & preservation project". The Communications Museum Trust. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Jersey Telecom deploys Marconi SoftSwitch and Access Hub". Lightwave. 8 July 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  11. ^ a b Network Topology Map
  12. ^ "Channel Islands digital radio launches with an all DAB+ line-up – RadioToday".
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