Gigabit Jersey broadband funding row

Cable and Wireless is saying there was no consultation over plans to give millions to JT to improve broadband. Cable and Wireless, which owns Sure, says the regulator, the States and the public need to have their say. Under plans to boost internet services in Jersey, the Treasury Minister is giving millions of pounds to JT to help set up "Gigabit Jersey". Superfast fibre-optic broadband services would be available to every home in Jersey, attracting businesses. JT announced last year that it planned to launch gigabit broadband by 2016 and was investing more than £40m to replace all of Jersey's copper cables with fibre optic cables. 'Value for money' Jersey's Treasury Minister said he wanted to use public money to set up the network because it would attract large internet businesses to Jersey. Cable and Wireless is the latest telecoms provider in Jersey to voice concerns. Clear Mobitel said previously said other companies should be allowed to try to get the contract. Cable and Wireless has questions about how JT plans to do it and what alternatives there are to superfast broadband. Chief Executive Graham Hughes said: "We do not know how much JT intends to charge islanders for superfast broadband or how they intend to allow competitors to access the network in order to provide fair competition that will give islanders the best value in superfast broadband."