5G on way after JT announce £80m investment and deal with Ericsson

Wednesday 28 June 2023

Mobile download speeds could be 100 times faster within 12 months after JT announced a £80m investment to bring 5G to Jersey.

The States-owned operator on Tuesday signed a deal with Swedish tech giant Ericsson to upgrade the island’s mobile network from 4G to 5G.

JT, which also operates in Guernsey, said it was the biggest telecoms investment ever made in the Channel Islands – bigger than the roll-out of its fibre network in 2018, which linked every property in Jersey directly to super-fast internet access.

It added that the upgrade would replace current equipment provided by Chinese firm ZTE. The use of the Chinese technology has been reviewed in several western countries due to concerns over security and surveillance. 

JT’s investment is being funded by the sale of its ‘Internet of Things’ business for £200m in 2021, which also provided its shareholder, the Government, with a £40m windfall.

Half of that £40m is now funding the Government’s ‘Impact Jersey’ initiative, which is offering grants to Jersey-based technology firms and individuals to develop tech solutions “to support economic, environmental and social priorities”.

Following the agreement with Ericsson, JT’s mobile network in both Jersey and Guernsey will be replaced with an Ericsson ‘5G Standalone’ network, which is described as its ‘gold standard’ product.

Pictured: JT Group Chief Executive Officer, Daragh McDermott.

JT Group Chief Executive Officer Daragh McDermott said: “This agreement with Ericsson is an incredibly exciting opportunity, not just for JT but for the Channel Islands as a whole. We made a major investment in our fibre network and now we are doing the same with mobile.

“But the two networks are complementary as our mobile sites will be connected by fibre. The two fit together hand in glove.”

Katherine Ainley, Chief Executive of Ericsson UK and Ireland, said: “Ericsson and JT share the same passion and vision for next-generation connectivity to create new possibilities for people, businesses and society. 

“We are excited to be building the network of the future for the Channel Islands; this will deliver leading connectivity and create a platform of innovation that will power new consumer and enterprise services, advance the digitalisation of industries and boost future economic growth.”

Mrs Ainley added that 5G technology had been proven to be safe and there was far less "noise" today around the issue of electromagnetic radiation than there used to be.

"If we turn that around, I would prefer to think of all the amazing life-enhancing things you can do with this network, including remote medicine," she said.  

In Jersey, both JT and Sure have been allocated radio spectrum for 5G by the competition regulator, which has sent its recommendation on to UK regulator Ofcom to have the final say.

In Guernsey, the process of awarding radio spectrum has yet to begin.

Pictured top: (left to right, standing): Ericsson's Head of Market Area Europe and Latin America, Jenny Lindqvist; Chief Minister Kristina Moore and Deputy Chief Minister Kirsten Morel; (sitting) Katherine Ainley, Ericsson CEO UK and Ireland; Daragh McDermott, JT CEO.