Manx Telecom Launches 4G Network On Isle of Man

Residents of the Isle of Man can now receive 4G after Manx Telecom successfully launched the island’s first LTE network, with rival operator Sure Isle of Man due to roll out its competing service later this year.

The £10m rollout saw Huawei replace Manx Telecom’s existing GSM/HSPA infrastructure with LTE, while the construction has also apparently improved the operator’s 2G and 3G service.

“This is another first for Manx Telecom and the Isle of Man and we’re delighted to be bringing this fantastic new technology to our customers,” boasts Manx Telecom CEO Mike Dee. “For customers already on pay monthly smartphone plans with a 4G ready handset, there will be no extra cost to use the new network, as access is automatically included in these plans.”

Isle of Man 4G

While part of the British Isles, the Isle of Man is not part of the UK, or even the European Union, meaning it has fallen outside the remit of the likes of EE, O2, Three and Vodafone, all of whom have launched 4G in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The Manx government awarded both Manx Telecom and Sure Isle of Man licences for 800MHz and 1800MHz spectrum, along with access to the 2.6GHz band should the need arise in the future, last year. Both operators must offer 95 percent coverage within two years of launching.

Isle of Man’s chief minister Allan Bell says the advent of 4G will play a major role in the crown dependency remaining a “world-class” international business centre.

“A world class telecoms infrastructure is always high on the list of priorities for inward investors, so it’s vitally important that the Isle of Man keeps pace with other leading jurisdictions by introducing 4G,” he says.

The Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, both themselves crown dependencies, are due to receive 4G services in the near future after their own telecoms regulator finally awarded LTE spectrum licences to Jersey Telecom, Sure and Airtel Vodafone.

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