The Internet of Things (IoT) is something that has already taken root and will only become more important in the future, providing fantastic opportunities for Jersey’s technology sector.


TRANSFORMING Telecoms by GRAHAM HUGHES, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF SURE JERSEY.


Recent years have seen enormous investment in Jersey’s telecoms marketplace. 4G mobile networks, fibre and, at last, the opening up of the landline market have all been major developments. As Sure celebrates its 10th anniversary on the island, Graham Hughes, Chief Executive of Sure Jersey, looks ahead to the firm’s next successful decade.


As an industry, telecoms continues to back the island’s prosperity by making significant investments in the island’s infrastructure. Where, twenty years ago, there was only one poorly performing mobile network and a single copper landline infrastructure, we have today replaced them with a selection of 4G superfast mobile broadband networks that bring the power of the Internet to everybody.


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. For the first time, businesses can become truly mobile, freeing staff from their desks and processes from the office.


Alongside the advent of 4G, we recently saw the opening up of landline services to competition, meaning that, for the first time, we have a truly competitive telecoms market that works to the benefit of customers.


A truly competitive marketplace has been a long time in coming and it took the best part of Sure’s first decade to make it


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happen but now that it’s here, islanders should begin to see a response from all telecoms providers as they respond to the opportunity by offering more innovative services and even better pricing.


Cloud power One trend that is shaping the future of technology for good is the move to place more business systems in the cloud. We are already seeing a growing trend for private or hybrid cloud services and this is only going to continue as companies come to understand the cost control and flexibility that cloud services can offer.


To operate world class cloud services, you need world class data centres and since Sure’s acquisition of Foreshore, we have been able to push forward in these areas and as a result, are well placed to help the island continue to grow as a digital centre of excellence.


Opportunities lie ahead


The potential for the island to play a key role as a world-class data hub should not be underestimated. As an industry, we have developed an excellent reputation as a disaster recovery and hosting centre for the financial services and eCommerce sectors, extending this into the global eGaming industry also makes sense, even more so when you look at similar areas such as the enormous, untapped eSports market.


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 it is easier to point to those trends that we believe will come to the fore over the coming years. The Internet of Things (IoT) is something that has already taken root and will only become more important in the future, providing fantastic opportunities for Jersey’s technology sector.


IoT is the connection of objects, appliances and gadgets to the internet and marks a step change in the way we interact with the world. Things we have previously thought of as inanimate 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 be able to play a role in areas ranging from commerce to health to the motor industry.


As we celebrate our first successful ten years and look ahead to our next decade, we know that Sure is well prepared to help the island make the most of its existing industries. At the same time, we can provide the support the island needs to develop new aspects of its economy to help us make a real success of the 21st century and all of its challenges.


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