A year after mobile number portability was introduced, Sure remains the largest mobile company in the Channel Islands.

From 1st December 2008, in a move to increase competition, customers have been able to keep their mobile number if they chose to move operator.

As the incumbent and the operator with the largest market share, Sure expected to see a significant number of customers in Guernsey port their number but had seen just 3,200 customers move by the end of November. In Jersey, Sure has won 1,700 customers. In both islands it has continued to see re-signs and a growth in customers joining the network who haven’t moved their number.

“Despite MNP, Sure continues to have the largest number of mobile customers in the Channel Islands with 46% of the market. It was inevitable that a percentage of customers in Guernsey would be motivated more by price alone than the combination of price and service and would choose to move. However it is extremely positive that this number is much lower than forecasted and is evened out somewhat by the increase in Jersey customers who moved to Sure,” said Sure’s marketing director Paul Taylor.

“We have also continued to see good growth in the number of new customers who are choosing to join Sure over the other operators and we believe this is based on our increasingly competitive price plans, reliable service and additional services such as internet and mobile broadband.”

Since 1st December 2008, Sure has won 21% of all ports across the Channel Islands and 32% in Jersey.

Customers who chose to move operator have found themselves tied into contracts but Mr Taylor said that Sure had already seen customers choosing to return.

“Over the year, there have been customers who have chosen to leave and have then come straight back and this number has started to increase as we reach the first anniversary of MNP. We are confident that this trend will continue as customers realise that Sure is the most competitive and reliable telecom operator in the Channel Islands.”