States votes to suspend competition law

Jersey's competition regulator has already approved the deal

Politicians have backed a move to suspend competition law to allow telecoms firm Sure to buy Airtel.

A proposal to bypass the current regulator from the Committee for Economic Development was approved by 27 votes to seven.

Committee president Neil Inder said the deal would help make Guernsey "one of the best connected places in the world".

Sure's CEO Alasdair Beak said the decision was "great news for Sure and Airtel customers and the future of telecommunications services in Guernsey and Jersey".

Former Chief Minister Gavin St Pier said the move "was not a good look" for the States.

President of Policy and Resources (P&R) Lyndon Trott said approving the proposals was "an absolute no-brainer" and P&R's vice-president Heidi Soulsby agreed and said it "shows we are open for business".

Sure said the deal would mean an extra £48m of investment in Guernsey, and would include a commitment to introduce a 5G network.

The deal means, at least for the short-term, there will only be two telecoms operators based in the Channel Islands.

As part of the deal Sure has to commit to launching a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) which it has committeed to do with the Channel Island Co-Op.

It also includes a commitment not to withdraw legacy Sure and Airtel tariffs for existing customers for up to 36 months from the date the deal to buy the company is made.