Year: 2017

The next seminar in the Institute of Directors’ winter series, sponsored by JT, will discuss if the conclusion of the much-publicised Carlyle Capital Corporation case raises or lowers the bar for company directors.

The Carlyle case ended in Guernsey’s Royal Court in September, when senior executives at US-based The Carlyle Group were cleared of negligence in a seven-year case brought against them by liquidators valued at more than £1 billion, making it the largest case in the Island’s history.

The action related to the collapse of Guernsey investment fund Carlyle Capital Corp (CCC) in 2008 in the wake of the global financial crash, and related to US$23 billion that the respondents borrowed in mortgage-backed securities, leading to around US$1billion total losses for investors. The case, specifically for breach of duty and wrongful trading, was brought by liquidators for CCC, and the respondents included Bill Conway, a co-founder of the global investment group.

While the judgment has provided clarity in respect to certain obligations of directors, the seminar will fully discuss the implications for executive and non-executive directors. Does it bring comfort to them or raise the prospect of more litigation? And do the rewards of leadership still outweigh the risks?

In the panel session, lawyers Gareth Bell and Ian Swan – who represented non-executive directors and directors respectively in the Carlyle case – will discuss its implications and draw on other leading cases in this area. They will be joined by independent directors Anne Ewing, Peter Mills and Rupert Dorey, who will add their own experiences, knowledge and backgrounds to the discussion.

Graeme Millar, CEO of JT, said: “We are pleased to once again be supporting the IoD to provide topical events for its membership. The second in the series discusses the outcome of the lengthy Carlyle case, which attracted international media attention and its implications are far reaching. It’s great to see IoD Guernsey getting together to cover areas of such relevance to the business community.”

The seminar will be held on 26 January in the Dorey Room at St James, 12.30 pm – 2 pm.

Press Release

JT has signed an agreement with the national telecoms company of Andorra to work together in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and information security.

The cooperation programme will also promote the professional development of employees. Staff will be seconded from JT to Andorra Telecom and vice versa to share knowledge and experience, identify how the companies can work closer together, and promote multicultural and dynamic working environments.

The agreement was signed on Monday 11 December by JT Chief Executive Officer Graeme Millar and his counterpart at Andorra Telecom, Jordi Nadal.

Mr Millar said: “Like JT, Andorra Telecom is a government-owned company that punches above its weight on the international stage. We’ve both invested in full-fibre broadband networks and are developing innovative IoT services to help devices connect with each other automatically. This partnership makes perfect sense because we’re moving in the same direction but still have a lot to learn from each other. “It will also be an added incentive for staff in both companies to expand their horizons and learn new technical, functional or managerial skills, and promote creativity, flexibility, initiative and commitment. Ultimately, it is a win-win.”

Mr Nadal said: “From Andorra Telecom’s perspective, we’re particularly interested in JT’s knowledge of networks, its work in the IoT space and the way it has expanded globally. Equally, I hope our own experience in fibre-optic technology and information security will be of great interest to JT.

“Although, geographically, Andorra and the Channel Islands are very different, as telecoms operators, we face similar challenges and this new agreement will be insightful and rewarding for both partners.”

DOWNLOAD THIS PRESS RELEASE

For more information on Andorra Telecom visit CLICK HERE

JT has once again been confirmed as the fastest mobile carrier in the Channel Islands and Internet Service Provider in Jersey by Ookla – the globally recognised leader in Internet performance testing and metrics for broadband and mobile networks.

Results from all networks across the Islands were analysed by Ookla, which runs Speedtest, the world’s most popular Internet performance testing service. Consumer-initiated test results using Speedtest by Ookla confirm that JT has faster Speed Scores than any of its competitors.

The tests were carried out from April to September in 2017 using industry-approved methodology. Ookla’s results are widely trusted by regulators, trade groups and analysts. They are used by virtually every major mobile carrier and Internet Service Provider in the world, including being used by the GSMA. Each day, over eight million tests are carried out on Speedtest and their customers include Microsoft, Cisco and Vodafone.

Daragh McDermott, Director of Corporate Affairs at JT, said: “The Channel Islands are well served by mobile and broadband operators and these results from Ookla simply help people decide who to choose.

“JT has invested tens of millions of pounds in our 4G and fibre networks across our islands so it is pleasing to receive a third-party endorsement confirming our investment is having a positive impact. That said, we can never rest on our laurels and as the Channel Islands’ only locally owned provider, JT will continue to invest to ensure that residents and businesses have resilient, reliable and speedy communications now and for the future.”

Jamie Steven, EVP of Operations at Ookla, said: “We at Speedtest by Ookla congratulate JT for the standout performance of their network speed, for a second year in a row. A reliable network and the internet are now integral to so many of our lives and it is already becoming difficult to imagine a world without it. JT is ensuring that the Channel Islands will remain at the leading edge of this digital revolution.”

DOWNLOAD THIS PRESS RELEASE

JT and Inmarsat have announced the formation of a new strategic partnership to deliver a total connectivity solution for Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The global network will combine Inmarsat’s existing satellite communication infrastructure and cellular data provided by JT. This will enable Inmarsat’s customers to access a global connectivity network from a single provider to deliver the next generation of IoT technology.

JT SIM cards now power over 1.4 million devices worldwide. The majority of these are connected to the Internet of Things – a global network of ‘smart’ devices sending and receiving data, from heart-rate monitors in Canada to payment systems in East Africa.

Tom Noel, Managing Director of JT International, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Inmarsat in rolling out a global connectivity solution, to support its IoT network. With over 600 direct roaming partners, we can offer a multi-network communications solution that spans almost every country in the world, and our M2M (Machine-to-Machine) SIM solution is purpose-built to deliver the connectivity required for IoT. We are looking forward to taking this partnership with Inmarsat forward and continuing to service our customers with high-speed, reliable connectivity, wherever they are in the world.”

Paul Gudonis, President of Inmarsat Enterprise, said: “This is a hugely important partnership for Inmarsat. Integrating a global cellular solution with our satellite communication network means that we can provide all of the connectivity necessary for an IoT installation, to anywhere in the world. This gives us a much more powerful offering when we bring our IoT solutions to the market, as it means our customers only need to liaise with one provider, not go to one company for satellite connectivity and another for cellular data.”

In the first demonstration of the transformative potential of a global IoT network, JT and Inmarsat have worked with Actility to establish a smart city initiative in Kigali, Rwanda. The satellite-enabled, city-wide IoT network utilises JT’s M2M SIM cards within Actility’s base stations to create the connectivity gateways required for IoT applications. This connectivity solution has enabled a variety of large scale IoT projects to be deployed in Kigali, including a smart bus project, real-time monitoring of air pollution level, precision farming and a connected surveillance system.

DOWNLOAD THIS PRESS RELEASE

About Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat operates around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com.

About Inmarsat Enterprise
Inmarsat Enterprise is enabling the connected world. Focusing on the provision of satellite connectivity and IoT solutions for land-based businesses, Inmarsat Enterprise operates globally across a diverse set of sectors including agritech, aid and NGO, energy, media, mining and transport. Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat operates around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Gigabit Jersey – JT’s project that will soon see every home and business in the Island connected directly to super-fast broadband – has been Highly Commended in the Fixed Network Evolution category at the world’s premier telecoms award, the ‘Glotels’.

The Gigabit Jersey project began in 2012 and over 94%* of premises have now been directly connected to the fibre network. It means that Jersey is now ranked first in the world in terms of percentage of premises with a full-fibre connection to broadband. Upon completion, it will be the global leader.

It will also allow the Island to become the first in the world to completely replace its ageing copper wire network – which has served the telecoms industry well for over a century – with fast, reliable and secure fibre-optic cables.

Now in its fifth year, the Global Telecoms Awards celebrates a broad range of accolades, including ‘Connected Cars’, ‘AI Initiative of the Year’ and ‘TV/Video Innovation’. Companies shortlisted in JT’s category included UAE-based Etisalat and TDC Group, Denmark’s largest telecoms operator.

Read more

CICRA confirmation — JT has welcomed the findings of a recent CICRA study of CI mobile network quality which confirms that JT has the best local network.

Although this is a single study, it does support some of the results of previous surveys, such as the one conducted last year by one of the world’s recognised independent authorities on network speeds, Ookla, who confirmed that JT’s network was the best in the islands.

Daragh McDermott, Corporate Affairs Director at JT commented:

“It’s always pleasing to see the CI networks compared very favourably to those available in the UK – this study relates to the mobile network, but the quality difference is there on JT’s fixed-line broadband network too.

“We were surprised to see Sure jump on this one result to allege that they have the fastest network, which I think carries a very serious risk of misleading customers.

“Notwithstanding the fact that it is only one study, the results just aren’t that simple.

“A closer inspection shows that while Sure had quick downloading speeds in this one study (see graphic below), JT had much better uploading speeds – secondly, while Sure’s network coverage was officially branded as ‘variable’, JT’s was formally recognised as being ‘more consistent.’

“When you put all of that together, we are very confident in saying we have the best local network –  but it’s actually more important to listen to what our mobile customers think.

“The fact that thousands move to JT every year, and that we are the only operator to give them complete freedom to change provider if they want to – and the vast majority choose to stick with JT – is actually all the proof we need.”

Read more

JT was runner-up in the ‘Networking Innovations’ category at the recent NextGen Digital Challenge Awards 2017, which celebrates digital innovation in the British Isles.

The Channel Islands’ only locally owned telecommunications company was commended for its pioneering work that allows devices operating in the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) to communicate with each other without interruption, wherever they are in the world. Its ‘open roaming’ solution allows machines to connect using a JT SIM card.

With a standard single network SIM, there are dozens of single points of failure and potential problems with coverage but what makes JT’s solution special is that its SIM has no network preference. If data reaches a dead end or bottleneck, it will instantly switch to a fully functioning network.

The judges praised the independence of JT’s solution as well as its ‘NOMAD’ management platform, which provides dynamic coverage control, location services, elimination of overage charging and is also offered as a white label to customers.

Read more

JT is once again proud to sponsor the Institute of Directors’ Guernsey Winter Seminar series, which begins on Friday 3 November. The first seminar will be held at 12.30 pm at the Digital Greenhouse.

The topic of the seminar will be Board Effectiveness and discussions will be led by a panel of experts, including Louise Gulliver, Managing Director of Professional Development at the IoD; Roger Barker, former IoD Head of Corporate Governance, and Derek Millar, Chief Executive Officer of The Catholic National Mutual Limited and finalist for New Chartered Director of the Year 2017.

James Ede-Golightly, IoD Committee member and series organiser, said: “The panel will discuss some of the key aspects of board effectiveness and the Chartered Director programme, as well as share personal experiences of working in boards to establish and promote the principles of board effectiveness. The seminar will also highlight current issues and trends with relevance to directors and boards.

“I expect that this year’s Winter Seminar series will match last year’s great success and I would like to thank JT for its ongoing sponsorship.” Tamara O’Brien, Deputy Managing Director of JT Guernsey said: “We’re pleased to continue to support the IoD by providing these topical lunchtime events for its membership. The series begins with a subject that is important and relevant to the whole business community,
and I’m sure the quality of discussion will be high.

“As the only locally owned communications provider in the Channel Islands, we are committed to supporting local industry and our long-standing partnership with the IoD, as sponsor of this seminar series, enables us to get right to the heart of bringing leading local business figures together for thought-provoking discussion. We wish the IoD every success for this Winter Seminar series.”

Read more

Find out more about the IoD Guernsey Brand here.

The fourth National Coding Week 2017 – founded in the Channel Islands by former headteacher Richard Rolfe and tech entrepreneur Jordan Love – was a great success with record-breaking engagement, both at events and online.

In the UK, people from all walks of life attended sessions from coding for beginners to advanced skills over the course of the week (18-22 September). Locally, more than 200 people went to events held at Jersey Library and Guernsey’s Digital Greenhouse, which ranged from augmented reality to women in technology. At least 2,400 children also gained a ‘Digital Badge’ for National Coding Week by taking part in an online course at school, learning essential skills such as password and social media management, and being aware of ‘stranger danger’.

The week prompted over 7,000 Tweets, including engagement from the BBC Academy, GCHQ, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) OpenCourseWare and Cisco. There are now close to 3,000 Followers of NCW on Twitter. As well as the Channel Islands and UK, events were held in the US and Australia.

Read more

Find out more about coding week here.