Telecoms INVESTING IN THE ISLAND’S FUTURE By Graham Hughes, Chief Executive of Sure Jersey
Graham Hughes, Chief Executive of Sure Jersey, looks at the benefits that such large-scale investment will bring.
A great deal has been made of Jersey’s investment in fibre broadband and there is no doubt that many islanders are already enjoying faster home internet speeds. The rollout is expected to continue over the next few years but it is far from being the only major infrastructure project that the industry is committing to and has already been joined by significant investment in another game- changing technology - 4G, mobile internet at broadband speeds.
In making these investments, telecoms has given Jersey an enormous vote of confidence. All major telcos have installed 4G networks that put Jersey at the top of the rankings in terms of superfast mobile broadband coverage. If anyone needed reassurance about the need for 4G, the answer can be found in the fact that islanders have responded by increasing their use of mobile data services because the information convenience the technology provides brings benefits for consumers and businesses alike.
For all intents and purposes, the island’s mobile communications infrastructure is now on a par with its fixed network for the speed and capacity of voice and data services. This means that for the first time, businesses can become truly mobile by using the technology to free staff from their desks and processes from the office. Looking ahead, we can expect to see an increasing trend for mobile working in Jersey. This is likely to have knock on benefits for those companies and organisations that embrace mobile and use it to access new markets both on and off-island.
Committed to the cloud
Another technology that we can expect to see more people and companies embrace over the coming years, is the cloud. On the business front, we are already seeing a growing trend for private or hybrid cloud services and, as racks grow in density, so our data centres are seeing an increasing demand for power which has been met by the commissioning of the Normandie 3 power cable. This important infrastructure project means that Jersey’s power supplies are more resilient than before and give businesses the assurance they need to make the leap into the cloud.
Making the most of opportunity As well as investment in public networks, Sure has invested heavily in its data centres services, not least through the acquisition of Foreshore, and believes that Jersey has the potential to play a key role as a world-class data hub. Jersey already has an excellent reputation as a disaster recovery and
Already, the major telcos in the Channel Islands do a lot of business in the Machine to Machine (M2M) space, leveraging the quality of our local mobile networks and roaming agreements to provide cost-effective mobile communications to companies that are already using M2M technologies. As IoT develops, we need to make sure that Jersey is a part of the conversation for firms that are looking for high-quality data services and cost-effective 4G, and one day, 5G networks.
The future is as impossible to predict now as it has ever been and the break-neck pace of technology development only continuesto accelerate. However, Sure and the wider telecoms sectorcontinue to show their commitment to the island through considerable ongoing investment and by doing so, are making sure that Jersey has the foundations it needs to make the most of our digital future.
A Digital Jersey Page 19
hosting centre for the financial services and eCommerce sectors. eSports is best described as the world of video game competitions. Millions of people gather online to watch and participate in tournaments that pitch the very best players of video games against each other. The opportunity for the island to provide hosting services to such a large industry is one that should not be overlooked and perfectly complements our existing expertise.
It is always difficult to predict exactly when a technology will become mainstream but there are some clear trends emerging which will shape our lives in the coming years. The Internet of Things (IoT) is something that has already taken root and which will only become more important in the future. In doing so, it will provide new and interesting opportunities for Jersey’s technology sector.
IoT is the connection of objects, appliances and gadgets to the internet. This marks a step change in the way we interact with the world because things that we previously thought of as ‘dumb’ will suddenly be given an online life, enabling them to communicate information about themselves to other machines. In doing so, the Internet of Things will play a role in a range of areas, from commerce to health to the motor industry.
Until IoT is fully embedded in our lives, it will be impossible to know just how it will affect us but ideas of your car being able to inform your house about your impending arrival, so the heating is switched on, are not too far from the likely reality. IoT has the potential to revolutionise our lives and provide opportunities for Jersey’s technology sector.
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