Channel Islands 5G Boost as Sure Complete Airtel Vodafone Acquisition

Mobile and broadband operator Sure, which serves the English Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, has announced the completion of their move to acquire rival Airtel Vodafone. The deal also signals the start of their pledge to invest £48m into building a new “world-class” 5G mobile network across the islands.

The deal, which only became possible after the States of Guernsey recently voted to temporarily suspend local competition law in order to allow the pair to merge (here), will also require Sure to make several legally binding commitments to help protect local competition, which among other things includes a requirement to launch a new virtual (MVNO) mobile operator with the Channel Island Co-Op (Coop Mobile) within the next 12-months.

Sure has also agreed not withdraw any Sure and Airtel tariffs that are active as at the date of clearance of the merger. This is designed to protect today’s prices for consumers for the 36 months following completion of the transaction, after which time Coop Mobile should be fully established and competing with Sure and JT.

Finally, Sure has promised to continue to offer unlimited data plans for at least the next three years, although in this modern age it would be quite a shock if they ever ended up scrapping those.

Sure’s Group CEO, Alistair Beak, said:

“The large investment we’re making will lead to significant improvements to customers’ connectivity, speeds and coverage, as well as value for money through innovative products and services. The new mobile network, complemented by our extensive fibre network, will mean we can stay ahead of future demand driven by our increasingly digital lifestyles.”

In terms of the coverage improvements, Sure said they will start to take place during 2025 and be completed in 2026. But otherwise there won’t be any immediate changes for Airtel or Sure customers.