Helene Narcy
Group CFO and Director of Corporate Services, JT
As CFO and Director of Corporate Services at JT, I attended Mobile World Congress to understand not just where technology is heading, but what it means for the financial resilience and long‑term strategic direction of our business. This year reinforced something I’ve felt building for some time: AI, security and sustainability are no longer emerging themes — they are now core to the evolution of our industry, whilst data sovereignty will play an increasing role in the market.
AI: Moving Beyond Enablement to Value Creation
AI is now unavoidable. Every conversation in Barcelona makes clear that operators can no longer treat AI as an optional enhancement — it must be embedded into operations if we want to remain efficient, competitive and relevant.
But the bigger message is this: there is a limited window for operators to claim our share of the value that AI will create. Connectivity alone will not be enough. While AI depends on high‑quality networks and reliable data flows — something telcos have always provided — remaining purely in the role of “utility provider” would leave the real commercial upside to others.
AI can enhance efficiency, improve decision‑making, reduce costs and help us deliver systems‑level improvements across the network. But the bigger opportunity lies in how we apply it to unlock new value for customers, create smarter digital services, and position JT as an intelligence‑led operator.
Security: A Cost, a Necessity and a Differentiator
Security was impossible to ignore this year — and from a CFO standpoint, that’s hardly surprising. Strengthening cybersecurity capabilities is expensive, it is driven by increasing regulation, and it requires continuous investment. I attended a fireside chat exploring how CFOs evaluate these rising costs, and the sentiment across the industry was unanimous: security is no longer a compliance line — it is part of the value proposition.
Yes, regulation demands it. But customers increasingly choose providers based on how secure their digital lives will be. As operators, we must translate our investment into something customers can feel confident in: trusted, secure, resilient networks that protect people, businesses and governments.
At JT, our end‑to‑end secure network — delivered through our partnership with Ericsson – already gives us a strong advantage. This is not only risk management. It is brand value, commercial differentiation and builds customer trust.
Data Sovereignty: A Growing Opportunity
Data sovereignty is emerging quickly, and while many elements still need definition, it represents a meaningful opportunity for operators like JT. Unlike other areas where scale determines influence, data sovereignty elevates the importance of local infrastructure, country‑specific data governance and community trust — areas where operators in Jersey and the Channel Islands are naturally stronger.
Location of data centres, ownership of platforms and supplier frameworks all play a crucial role. And the crossover between AI and security is unmistakable — AI can enhance security, and secure networks make AI adoption viable.
Across all of this, one theme remains constant: partnerships matter. No operator can deliver all of this alone. Our long‑standing relationships with world‑class suppliers are critical to ensuring our islands benefit from global innovation while maintaining the local control and protection sovereignty requires.
Sustainability: Embedded, Expected and Financially Essential
While sustainability may not headline the agenda as it once did, it is now visibly woven into every conversation and every product roadmap. It has moved from a standalone theme to a foundational expectation.
For JT, sustainability is both an environmental commitment and a financial one. AI‑powered optimisation helps reduce energy use across networks. Circular infrastructure models and reuse strategies lower capex requirements. The economics of sustainability now matter just as much as the carbon impact.
In the device ecosystem, rising handset prices and smaller year‑on‑year device improvements are accelerating the shift toward refurbished phones. We’re seeing this firsthand at JT: for the first time, customer demand for refurbished devices exceeds supply. This brings responsibility — we must help customers feel confident about recycling their old devices, particularly around data security. Clear processes, certificates of secure erasure and transparent communication all play a critical role in building that trust.
What This Means for JT
The themes of MWC 2026 align closely with JT’s strategic direction:
- AI‑enabled operations that strengthen efficiency, unlock value and enhance our next‑generation networks.
- Data sovereignty, secure infrastructure that reflects our commitment to regulators, partners and island communities.
- Sustainable investment models that balance financial discipline with environmental responsibility.
- A circular device ecosystem that supports affordability, recycling and long‑term customer value.
MWC 2026 makes one thing clear: the future belongs to operators who treat AI, Security and sustainability not as buzzwords, but as the pillars of long‑term value creation.
If you’d like to discuss any of these themes, feel free to reach out.
