Cable & Wireless has invested £2 million to provide Jersey with a direct link to the company’s global telecommunications network. 

It means that for the first time Jersey is included in the company’s HUGO network, which provides high capacity connections between Jersey, Guernsey, the UK and Continental Europe. 

The new links, known as HUGO East, went live last week and include a direct connection between Jersey and France, and another to Guernsey. 

Announcing the new links, Cable & Wireless International chairman Lord Robertson said:

“This major investment further underlines Cable & Wireless International’s commitment to the Channel Islands, and to improving the communications infrastructure so that we can provide the very latest, world class services to homes and businesses in both bailiwicks.” 

“Linking Jersey to the existing network will improve the capacity, resilience and security of the island’s telecommunications links, and put Jersey on a par with many of the world’s leading cities and business centres, such as Hong Kong, Paris, New York and London.”

In 2005, the company announced a £6.5 million investment in two new fibre optic cables linking Guernsey to the UK and Europe.  Known as Project HUGO, it provided the first direct connection between the Channel Islands and Cable & Wireless’ global telecommunications network.

Since the completion of the UK section last year, Cable & Wireless business customers in Guernsey have benefited from a range of new and improved services, with faster connection speeds, higher capacity, and price reductions of up to 30%. 

Cable & Wireless marketing director Mark Briers said:

“Our investment in HUGO is helping us to deliver more choice and more value in the marketplace. With the new connections, we will be able to bring more of these benefits to customers in Jersey.” 

“Sophisticated telecommunications services are vital for companies based in the Channel Islands and serving international markets, and our investment is helping to ensure the islands remain both competitive and also attractive to new businesses.” 

The HUGO network uses the very latest optical fibre technology, and has enough capacity to accommodate a 25-fold increase in the current volume of traffic across the whole of the Channel Islands. 

This is a vast increase compared to the older, legacy connections that previously provided all off-island connectivity for both Bailiwicks.  The most recent of these was installed more than 15 years ago. 

However Mr Briers said the company can even increase the capacity of HUGO further to cope with additional demand in the future. 

HUGO East makes use of the fibre optics within the cable that supplies both islands with power.  Cable & Wireless has installed the state-of-the-art equipment required to complete the connection to the local telecommunications network. 

For further information, please contact Steve Smith, Image PR, telephone: (01534) 734444.

 

 

 

About Cable & Wireless

Cable & Wireless is one of the world’s leading international communication companies. It operates through two stand alone business units – International, plus Europe, Asia and US.

The International business unit is the world’s pre-eminent telecoms provider with particular expertise in small to medium island economies. CWI operates integrated telecommunications companies in 33 countries offering mobile, broadband, domestic and international fixed line services to residential and business customers, with principal operations in the Caribbean, Panama, Macau, the Channel Islands and Monaco.

Cable & Wireless is investing to revolutionise communications in Guernsey, Jersey and Isle of Man. The company is developing a new generation of services bringing choice to customers and supported by a commitment to innovate and deliver customers more quality and value than ever before.

Simply speaking, Cable & Wireless keeps people in touch.