INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Mobile Technology
Jersey Telecom’ s new 5G network goes live
JT’ s multi-million-pound investment in a nextgeneration mobile network, powered by Ericsson, has entered its final phase with the first sites going live on the new 5G network making it a significant first for the Channel Islands and a leading early mover in Europe.
After months of trials and painstaking optimisation testing, they successfully migrated the old network on sites within Area One in St Ouen and transitioned to the newly built network. Predictions based on early testing show significant signal strength and coverage improvements, culminating in further significant increases in average download speed on the new network compared to the previous connectivity.
The moment marks the beginning of a new era for Jersey enabling the Island to become a true incubator for innovation across many sectors. This comes just two years on from JT partnering with Ericsson to upgrade its award-winning network with comprehensive end-to-end 5G solutions.
The process of rolling out the new network will take place over several months, with Areas going live in a phased approach. The full 5G Standalone( SA) experience will only be available once all phases are completed, which is expected by the end of 2025.
5G SA technology is more advanced than the non-standalone( NSA) 5G used by most operators. While Ericsson supports 183 5G networks in 77 countries, JT will be joining 60 leading operators globally with the launch of 5G SA. Combined with JT’ s full fibre-tohome service, this will provide Islanders with seamless connectivity both on the ground and in the air, making Jersey one of the most connected places in the world and one of the few networks globally to have end-to-end Ericsson technology.
Investment in the network
JT has already invested in extensive core network equipment in Guernsey as part of this initiative and stands ready to switch the radio network to match the capabilities of Jersey’ s once the Guernsey Regulator establishes a spectrum licensing framework for the deployment of 5G and future technologies.
The new 5G SA network is designed to provide JT’ s Channel Islands customers with world-leading connectivity, continuously enhancing reliability, latency and security. The telecom’ s focus has been on building a robust infrastructure that can adapt to future technologies, remain world-class and meet both anticipated and unforeseen data demands.
Daragh McDermott, CEO, JT Group said:“ Networks are never complete; the work never stops because technology is always improving, so our focus will always be on enabling the technology of tomorrow, for our customers today.”
Pictured: Daragh McDermott, CEO, JT Group, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, Chief Minister of Jersey, Alessandro Bovone, Chief Technical Officer, JT Group, David Le Couilliard, JT Network Operation Centre
Katherine Ainley, Chief Executive of Ericsson UK and Ireland, said:“ By investing in an end-to-end solution from Ericsson, JT is building a robust network with best-in-class coverage and performance. This advanced infrastructure will not only mean faster and more reliable connections, but also support new devices, services and business models that will position the Channel Islands as a global hub for innovation. We’ re looking forward to continuing our partnership to further develop the network and deliver new experiences for JT’ s customers.” p
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