Wednesday 27 April 2016
A core part of the States of Guernsey's 2014 economic development framework and 2015 Public Sector Reform is SMART Guernsey.
Aimed at progressing the Island's digital growth strategy using modern, digital, technology to empower the whole community, deliver government services more effectively and efficiently, and supporting a competitive business environment.
One of the commitments is to define the future connectivity requirements for the Island. In 2015, the States of Guernsey commissioned Analysys Mason to conduct a detailed assessment to:
Define the future digital environment for government, business and islanders.
Define the future connectivity requirements for Government, Businesses and Islanders.
Investigate the mixture of infrastructure, products and services needed to deliver the connectivity requirements.
Recommend options for delivery of the required infrastructure, products and services.
The review published today will enable the States of Guernsey to develop a telecoms strategy to fulfil their medium to long term social and economic ambitions. The current Policy Council and Commerce and Employment Department have reviewed the report and provided guidance and advice that will be included in the strategic planning and prioritisation process of the new Policy and Resources Committee.
Commenting on why it was important to undertake such a review, Chief Minister Jonathan Le Tocq said:
"As an Island community all our connections to the UK, Europe and the wider world are crucial enabling us to move, trade and interact with our neighbours and business markets. In the modern world digital connectivity has become critical to how we all live our lives and conduct business. This report provides the first strategic connectivity review for the Island laying out the challenges and opportunities and how these might be addressed. This report, commissioned by the Policy Council will now be handed over to the new Policy and Resources Committee to enact and forms part of a structured and measured transfer of responsibility from one government to the next."
