Fixed gap widens
Islanders and local businesses are benefitting
from phone charges that are nearly a third cheaper than in
Jersey.
The difference is widening after Jersey
Telecom, parent company of Wave Telecom, announced last week a
4.35% increase in landline rental cost. This will add around 50p a
month to most customers’ bills, bringing the basic exchange line
rental to £11.50 per month.
The compares to just £7.99 in Guernsey where
Sure, following its recent annual Price Change Review, is not
increasing exchange line rental for the next three years. And the
minimum cost of a local call will also stay at 4.8 pence flat rate,
however long you talk for, compared to 7 pence in Jersey, on top of
which a per minute rate is charged
Gregory Jordan, Sure’s Commercial Director for
the Channel Islands, commented:
“It is an interesting difference and certainly
demonstrates how in a transparent marketplace customers can clearly
see the benefits of Sure. Local call charges in the Bailiwick of
Guernsey are actually falling this year, in real terms, whereas
they are rising elsewhere in the Channel Islands,” he said.
“Where Sure is involved and competing we are
always looking to offer better prices, better service and a boost
to local customers that we are working with.”
Exchange line rental in Guernsey is also more
than 33% cheaper than in the UK, where BT’s standard charge is
£12.50 per month. BT customers are also charged extra to receive
paper bills.