Scouts use JT technology to make activities safer and more fun
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Scouts use JT technology to make activities safer and more fun

Adventurous activities for young people in Jersey have been made safer and more challenging thanks to modern GPS-led SMART technology donated by JT.

Scout leaders from two island Scout groups are now using handheld devices powered by JT SIMs that send them data that enables them to monitor their troops from a safe distance during expeditions, hikes and bicycle rides.

This provides an extra layer of safety when the Scouts – who are aged from 10 to 14 – take part in activities that are aimed at developing teamwork, navigation skills and problem solving.

Dan O’Connor, Scout Leader, 23rd Jersey Scout Group, said: “We’ve recently been introduced to GPS tracking by a Scout leader from another group, and thanks to JT’s help both groups can now use this to deliver a more challenging programme.  Our Scouts are eager to get outdoors and to face challenges. They want to make their own decisions. This technology allows us to create activities which are exciting but also safe, where the perceived level of danger is much higher than the actual level of risk. The Scouts are developing independence, resilience and teamwork skills, but they’re also having fun.  We can track exactly where each group is and how fast they’re moving, allowing us to supervise them from a safe distance and provide help only if it becomes necessary. This gives them a greater sense of freedom and responsibility, not to mention the huge sense of accomplishment and confidence boost they get from completing a task without any adult help.”

Tom Noel, Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, added: “Scouting is very popular in Jersey, but it’s reliant on the people who volunteer their time as leaders to provide fun and challenging activities for the island’s youth. With many of our own JT people actively involved in the scout movement we wanted to find a way we could use our digital expertise and network to help evolve practical activities. By using JT SIMs, leaders can link the small GPS trackers the Scouts take with them to provide real time positioning so they can see where they are on a map. The scouting motto is ‘Be Prepared’ and I think this is a fantastic way to help our young people learn important life skills and show great teamwork and leadership. They can plan and execute each outing, while their leaders can ensure they are comfortable, warm, safe and, most of all, prepared to face the unexpected — but safe in the knowledge that if needed, they can step in to support.”



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JT welcomes double win at IoD awards 2021

Responding to their IoD Director of the Year 2021 Award wins, Phil Male, JT Group Chairman, and Tom Noel, JT’s Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, commented:

Phil Male – winner of Non-executive Director of the Year (sponsored by Club NED):

“Clearly, I’m delighted to receive this fantastic award, because I think it recognises just how much everyone at JT has pulled together through the last eighteen months, which has seen us keep the island connected through COVID, be recognised as having the world’s fastest broadband network, launch a critical Sustainability Strategy and complete the largest corporate transaction in the digital sector that the island’s ever seen. There is no way that could all have been achieved unless it was preceded by many years of careful planning, hard work and talent, and that is exactly what I have seen throughout my colleagues in the JT Group. Thank you to the IoD and Club NED, on their behalf, for this fitting recognition of their achievements.”

Tom Noel – winner of the Director of the Year – Sustainability (sponsored by Jersey Water):

“There is nothing more important in business today than sustainability, and my team was really proud to be able to launch JT’s strategy earlier this year. JT will be working with our partners to help the island meet its carbon-neutral target, and we knew it was essential that we set out clearly exactly what we planned to achieve, with measurable objectives.

“In many ways though, publishing that strategy brought together much of the work which was already happening, and clearly set out the road ahead – which means the hard work starts now, and as a provider of critical national infrastructure, JT will be doing all it can to make sure its own operations are delivered sustainably, but also working together with our partners to enable the island to do the same.

“This award is recognition for everyone at JT who had worked so hard to get us to this point; I’d like to thank the IoD, and the Award’s sponsor, Jersey Water.”



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Fort Regent to turn green to mark Macmillan Jersey’s ‘Get Together for Good’ campaign

The dome on Fort Regent will glow green for the whole of next week to mark the ‘Get Together for Good’ campaign for Macmillan Cancer Support Jersey supported by JT.

The week, which starts on Monday 20 September and runs until 26 September, will feature activities that islanders can get involved in, either hosting an event at home or taking part in activities with friends, family and work colleagues.

Last year, JT and Macmillan changed the annual fundraising coffee morning to a 7-day event, raising over £26,000. This year there are even more opportunities to make a real difference and raise even more to ensure cancer support services continue for locals.

Daragh McDermott, Managing Director, JT Channel Islands, said: “After the success of last year, we want supporters to have even more opportunities to get involved which is what the ‘Get Together for Good’ week is all about. We chose Macmillan Jersey as our main charity in 2020, it was such a great partnership that when we asked our people at JT to continue our link with Macmillan Jersey for another year, they overwhelmingly agreed. I’m really pleased to see so many of our own partners and customers supporting this year by putting on events all over this island. We hope this will inspire more people to get inloved, organise an event and send out an invitation to friends in the name of ‘Get Together for Good.’’

Island businesses have embraced the new concept and set their own challenges. Coopers Coffee has created a special Macmillan coffee blend, Randalls Group are hosting quizzes every night during the week and Santander Work Café is hosting their very own greatest coffee morning, events will be happening all week at the JT shop in Queen’s Street.

Lauren Perchard-Rees, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support Jersey, said: “There are so many individual fund-raising events happening all over the island next week with people getting together and sharing some time to support our services. As a charity, we are available to everyone affected by cancer and we are so grateful for the support we receive from JT who have helped us expand this event more than we could have imagined. All next week Fort Regent will be lit up in green, highlighting how our team at Macmillan Jersey do a wonderful job in bringing people affected by cancer together and help cancer patients enjoy life to the fullest.”



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JT Technology linking GB gold medal winners to a global audience

Sports fans around the world will be glued to their screens this weekend watching some of the world’s top triathletes compete in Jersey, thanks to the connectivity provided by JT, the Official Technology Partner of the 2021 Super League Triathlon Jersey (SLT).

With Elizabeth Castle providing the backdrop, the SLT Championship Series returns on Saturday 18 September after a two-year absence with a host of Olympic medallists, including Team GB’s gold medal winners Alex Yee, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Jonny Brownlee and Jess Learmonth.

In a change to the usual format, SLT Teams puts the biggest names in triathlon into teams to compete against each other in the SLT Championship and, thanks to the technology supplied by JT, reaching 1.6 billion sports fans world wide will enjoy all the action as it is broadcast live from the Waterfront.

Daragh McDermott, Managing Director, JT Channel Islands, said: “After we watched and celebrated their success in Tokyo, it’s fantastic to be welcoming so many athletes fresh from the Olympics to our island.

“We are immensely proud of our continued involvement in the Super League Triathlon, helping to share this global event to the many fans of triathlon around the world and showcasing the best of what Jersey has to offer; that includes the excellent connectivity delivered by our full-fibre broadband network, which has recently been ranked as the very best in the world.

“We want to wish all the competitors the best as they line up for what is a highlight of the year, and we are delighted to be involved.”

Michael D’Hulst, CEO and Co-Founder of SLT, added: “We have worked closely with JT right from the beginning and they have been a huge supporter of everything we are doing to bring this fantastic sport to a new, global audience. It would simply not happen without the super-fast fibre connectivity that JT has made available in Jersey. Our athletes love the welcome they receive when they come to Jersey and relish the challenges of racing on the tight and narrow course around the St Helier Waterfront. Super League Triathlon is fast paced racing at its most exciting and, with our partners at JT, we can share the atmosphere from this fantastic event to a global audience.”



Jersey’s fibre broadband network ranked as best in the world
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Jersey’s fibre broadband network ranked as best in the world

Responding to the news that Jersey’s full-fibre broadband network has been listed at the very top of the World Broadband Speed League 2021 (produced by the comparison site, cable.co.uk), JT’s Managing Director, Daragh McDermott commented: “When we began the rollout of fibre to the home in Jersey a decade ago, we knew it would be a hugely challenging programme of work, but we also knew it was the right thing to do and that we needed to get it completed ahead of the customer demand that we predicted was coming down the line.

“Following completion of the fibre rollout four years ago, we have continued to invest in our quality of service and our customer experience, as well as proactively increasing the minimum speeds provided to our subscribers. By way of an example, the package of measures introduced by JT to assist subscribers with their connectivity requirements during the pandemic included an increase of speeds to 1 Gb/s (synchronous) for all subscribers. These increased speeds remain in place at no additional cost to JT subscribers, and the use being made of the connectivity has helped us reach the very top of the World Broadband Speed League 2021. It is also noteworthy that we are ahead of the closest comparator by a significant margin.

“Jersey’s full-fibre network will serve the island well for generations to come, and we are excited about how islanders and businesses can now use the infrastructure we have built to make the most of the amazing digital opportunities which are out there. We are also now looking forward to assisting our colleagues in Guernsey to achieve a similar outcome, following the announcement yesterday by the Committee for Economic Development to commence an island wide fibre rollout.”



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Fund raising record tumbles at Autism Jersey Golf Day

Island golfers clubbed together to raise £40,000 smashing last year’s record amount at the annual Autism Jersey Golf Day.

The event, which is sponsored by JT, is growing in popularity with 24 teams teeing off at La Moye Golf Club last month. In 2020, the event raised £35,000 to support the work of Autism Jersey. An additional six teams played this year, helping to boost the amount raised.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions last year, the event lunch was hosted across two venues and linked using the latest audio-visual technology powered through JT’s full-fibre network. This year golfers all got together afterwards in the La Moye Clubhouse for the lunch and prize giving which was attended by the Lieutenant Governor.

Nick Winsor, Chairman of Autism Jersey, said: ““We are delighted that JT continues to support our charity and this very popular annual event. The golf day raises awareness of Autism in our community and valuable funding for our services. It has been amazing to watch the Autism Jersey JT Golf Day grow from strength to strength each year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved.”

Daragh McDermott, JT’s Managing Director, added: “It is great to see the continued level of support for the charity and the friendly rivalry among the teams who try to beat each other each time we hold this event. The charity does amazing work in our community, helping to support people who are leading lives that are fully included in our society. Our long-term link with Autism Jersey is confirmed by this event and we at JT are immensely proud to be involved. We had some challenges holding it last year, but I am pleased to say that we were all able to gather in one place this time to swap stories and celebrate with those who have won prizes.”