New deal signals arrival of 5G in Jersey

Friday 23 November 2018

Jersey could have a new 5G network by 2021 after JT signed a deal with a major global telecoms equipment provider based in China.

The partnership with ZTE, which supported the island's 4G network, will see the island able to enjoy download speeds up to 10 times faster than today’s speeds.

JT also believes that the introduction of 5G on the island will support Jersey's role as a 'Digital Sandbox’ for trialling and developing products associated with the Internet of Things (IoT) - products that can access and make use of the internet. The telecoms provider forecasts that, in addition to thousands of IoT devices, by 2023 10% of Islanders will have 5G-enabled devices.

The deal to make 5g a reality in Jersey was signed by JT executives on Tuesday in Shenzhen, China, as part of an official Jersey trade delegation led by the Chief Minister to further develop the island’s business links with Asia.

Pictured: Daragh McDermott Corporate Affairs Director JT Group, Graeme Millar CEO JT Group, Kenneth Cao, Managing Director ZTE UK and Dr Han Gang, Vice-President ZTE Corporation.

JT will soon begin work with ZTE on the new network and aims to launch a test service during 2019, subject to approval by CICRA, the competition regulator. It is hoped a Channel Islands-wide service will be launched by 2021.  

Graeme Millar, JT CEO, commented: “Our goal is to build the best networks we possibly can for islanders to enjoy. We aspire to build on our island’s world beating fibre network and now offer Channel Islanders the best 5G service in the world. Our role is to support our customers, providing them the technology to do whatever they want. By building these information super highways we make this possible.

"ZTE are the ideal partner, who’ve supported us already with our 4G network. We know customers appreciate its speed and quality. Indeed, our ZTE 4G network has been ranked as the fastest in the CI by global assessor Ookla for the last three years running. We expect more of the same from our Islands’ new 5G network."

Pictured: Graeme Millar said the switch to a 5G network will be similar to the "revolution from copper to fibre."

Mr Millar explained that the move form 4G to 5G will be similar to the "revolution from copper to fibre", describing it as a complex project. It will involve a complete upgrade of the island's mobile network, new handsets as well as other changes.

Kenneth Cao, MD of ZTE UK, described the deal as a "key milestone" for both companies. "As we did through our 4g partnership, ZTE are determined and committed to provide the best possible 5g solution and service to JT and for the Channel Islands."