Second attempt to freeze competition law for deal

The change would allow telecommunications company Sure to acquire Airtel-Vodafone

Guernsey's Committee for Economic Development has proposed suspending the island's competition law for a second time.

The change would allow telecommunications company Sure to acquire Airtel-Vodafone.

Last year the committee withdrew its plans to suspend the rules, but did not reveal why.

Sure said the acquisition would lead to millions of pounds worth of investment in Guernsey's economy.

The committee previously argued the move would be good for consumers.

The change is being sought because all acquisitions of companies with turnovers of more than £2m need regulatory approval as standard to prevent the creation of monopolies.

Previously Sure said, if the committee's proposals are approved by deputies, Airtel customers would be offered three-year contracts.

In 2022 the company which owns Sure announced it had secured a deal to buy 100% of Airtel-Vodafone.

Responding to the new proposition, Sure said its proposed acquisition of Airtel would "transform the way telecommunications is delivered in Guernsey".

It said it would also "trigger significant investment" to introduce 5G mobile connectivity on the island for the first time, retain three operators in the mobile market and "lay the foundation for an increasingly digital future".

Sure said it would "immediately invest" up to £35m to build a 5G network

Alistair Beak, Sure Group CEO, said: “Everything we do today, from education to business to connecting with each other, is built on a foundation of high-speed, reliable networks, and Sure’s proposed acquisition of Airtel will support islanders’ increasingly digital lives and contribute to economic growth.

"We are hopeful that deputies will recognise these benefits and are looking forward to engaging with as many of them as possible to answer any questions they might have.”