Regulator Steps In To Curb Sure Telecoms Pricing

Monday, 18 December 2023 12:00

Guernsey's competition regulator has taken steps to prevent Sure charging too much for its telecoms services.

The GCRA says the company's wholesale broadband prices are "almost a third too high", and has instructed the company to reduce how much it charges other providers to use its infrastructure by 31% from April 2024.

If Sure's wholesale customers like JT and Airtel-Vodafone pass on the price reduction to their own customers, the competition watchdog says consumers could save an average of £116/year.

The GCRA's review compared telecoms prices in Guernsey to those in other "comparable sized jurisdictions" where Sure operates to ensure Guernsey customers weren't being overcharged.

At the same time, the regulator also announced it is taking steps to reduce Sure's 'leased line' prices by 23%.

Leased lines are used by businesses that need a dedicated private connection between two locations - which the GCRA says currently costs an average of £7,800/year.

Michael Byrne, the GCRA's CEO said: "There are many businesses in Guernsey who have a great deal of influence on the cost of living and cost of doing business here. They enjoy monopoly privileges and so it is right that they should be challenged to justify what they charge.

"As the independent regulator of the telecoms sector, the GCRA has the powers to challenge the charges in that sector.

"It is concerning that in two areas, business connectivity and broadband, when the GCRA carries out a detailed assessment it finds charges set well above the reasonable costs and profits that would be expected for providing them."

Sure has been contacted for a response.