Fibre-optics will be used to carry telephone traffic

Jersey-based company Newtel Solutions has said it is planning to offer a telephone and internet service between Jersey and Guernsey.

It joins Cable & Wireless and Wave Telecom as a service provider in the islands.

Newtel is using the fibre-optic cables which were laid alongside the electricity link to Jersey and France in 1996.

Traffic volume

Newtel said the fibres were capable of carrying up to 10 times more telecommunications traffic than the existing inter-island links.

The company has been in operation since 1988 and was awarded a public telecommunications operator's licence in Jersey in January 2003 and in Guernsey in November 2002.

Newtel chairman Peter Funk said he had hoped to introduce the service sooner.

He said: "Our network between Jersey and London has provided excellent service for over a year now.

"Unfortunately, we have been unable to make similar progress in Guernsey which has been extremely frustrating. At last we have now connected our inter-island network with the incumbent's network."