On Thursday 13th September it will be exactly a
year since Jersey introduced competition into the mobile phone
market.
Since its launch one year ago, Sure, the mobile
service from Cable & Wireless, has introduced value to more
than 15,000 customers. Other mobile users have benefited too.
Jersey Telecom has cut its own prices in reaction to Sure’s price
plans.
Sure mobile has introduced great value packages
for consumers and for corporate customers alike.
At launch Sure mobile immediately cut domestic
and national call prices by 40%. The company also introduced clear
roaming charges (dividing the world into just four zones with clear
charges for each), removed roaming charges between Jersey, Guernsey
and the Isle of Man for Sure customers and introduced roaming in 15
countries for Pay As You Go customers. Other value added services
introduced by Sure mobile include free voicemail, per second
billing and the island’s first loyalty scheme for Pay As You Go
customers.
For business customers Sure mobile introduced
the concept of value packages which offer free calls between
members of a group. It now also offers businesses special payment
plans if staff regularly travel between the Channel Islands &
Isle of Man. In addition, Sure mobile was also the first operator
to stock BlackBerry® devices.
Sure mobile also invested £13 million to
develop a high quality local network. Recent drive testing by Nokia
identified that the call set-up success rate (likelihood of being
able to connect a call whilst travelling around the island) was 99%
on Sure mobile’s network compared to 95.13% on Jersey
Telecom.
Mark Nixon, Commercial Director, Sure mobile
Jersey, commented:
“I am delighted to be celebrating this
milestone. Our team has done an incredible job since launch,
securing more than 15,000 customers. However, we will not be
sitting back and enjoying this success, it is important that
islanders continue to get more when they choose Sure.”
He added:
“We have proven the value of introducing
competition into a marketplace. Undoubtedly prices are now lower
for all customers than before Sure mobile launched. The next big
challenge is to ensure that customers have a free choice of the
best value network. We know that the lack of mobile number
portability is a barrier to that and so will do everything in our
power to ensure this is achieved by the JCRA deadline of 12th
February 2008.”
To celebrate Sure mobile’s first birthday
Channel 103FM will be broadcast its breakfast show live from the
Sure Store on 12th September from 7am until 10am. Part of the
broadcast included a 10 course breakfast including dishes from
around the world eaten live on air by Peter Mac, Murray Norton and
Mark Nixon. The threesome was served breakfast by ‘Surington’ the
butler at a window table in the King Street store. Members of Sure
mobile staff handed out free breakfast muffins to passers by.