Fibre optic broadband, which will bring faster internet connections throughout Jersey, has already been rolled out to 20,000 households in the island. But so far only 1,000 customers have signed up for the new service, with only 10 opting for the fastest speed of 1GB/s, although 40 have signed for a 100Mb/s service. At the moment about the fastest speed for households is 20Mb.
The installation of fibre optics throughout the island should be completed by spring 2013 according to JT (Jersey Telecom), and it is hoped that the whole island will switch to the new network by 2016.
JT has had £19 million financing from the island’s government for the £40 million development. As part of the financing deal JT must also offer the use of the fibre optic infrastructure to other operators in the island, Sure (Cable and Wireless) and Airtel/Vodafone.
The other operators and possible future clients maintain that laying the fibre optic cables is progressing slowly, although JT says that the scheme is on target.
At present broadband is using the existing copper cable network which is slow and difficult to maintain.