Channel Islands' home phone market competition welcomed

Telecoms providers in Jersey and Guernsey have welcomed plans for competition in both islands' landline markets from 2013.

Sure Jersey said it welcomed the decision by the Channel Island competition regulator (CICRA).

A spokesman said Sure was planning to launch a service in Jersey next June to compete with JT.

Graeme Millar, from JT, said it was "just about the only chunk of my business that we lose money on."

He said he hoped it would be managed fairly.

Graham Hughes, from Sure Jersey, said: "The basic price of a line in Jersey is £12.75 and in Guernsey it is £9.75 so clearly already there is a disparity and we hope to jointly agree to get those prices into balance.

"We very much welcome the first step of opening up the landline market for that competition."

A spokesman for CICRA confirmed initial notices had been issued to JT and Cable & Wireless "signalling the regulator's intention to open the landline markets in Jersey and Guernsey to competition".