Sure launches 5G trial

Tuesday 19 November 2019

Sure has started trialling 5G mobile technology, and is inviting a group of customers to help evaluate its performance.

The telecoms company will be trialling the technology for three months in St. Helier to assess how it will work.

Eligible customers have been contacted directly with details of the trial and those who choose to participate will be given a free 5G router in their home or business.  

They will be asked to provide feedback on their experience via a series of online surveys to help understand the value of 5G for consumers and businesses and to test the feasibility of providing enhanced broadband services via 5G in the island.

Pictured: 5G should provide faster speeds.

Sure describes 5G as the "transformational next generation of mobile technology" which should provide much faster data speeds, greater network capacity, improved connections, better coverage and lower latency.

“5G is the future which offers the opportunity to connect communities in ways we’ve never seen before so we’re excited to be launching this comprehensive trial to assess the different ways consumers and businesses will want to use this ground breaking technology,” said Graham Hughes, Chief Executive of Sure in Jersey.

“At Sure customers are at the heart of everything we do. We want 5G to benefit everyone so it’s very important for us that our customers can trial this latest technology and give feedback on their experience so we can develop a network that is truly impactful and beneficial to their daily lives."

Pictured: Sure will be trialing 5G for three months in St. Helier. 

Sure said they want to launch a network aligned with the Government's Telecoms Strategy and has pledged to work closely with both the Government and CICRA to implement it.

Senator Lyndon Farnham, Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture, welcomed the news of the trial,saying: "5G, together with the island’s existing full-fibre network, will play an important part in delivering the high-quality telecoms infrastructure that our digital services and related industries vitally need to help them achieve productivity-led growth."

Digital Jersey is also supporting Sure with the pilot. "While people in Jersey already benefit from some of the best mobile and broadband infrastructure in the world, it sends a strong message internationally that we are determined to exploit new opportunities as they come along," Tony Moretta, CEO of Digital Jersey, said.

"We are already working with businesses to help them improve productivity through technology including artificial intelligence and automation, so a homegrown trial of the potential 5G affords Jersey is a timely additional tool in our tech armoury."