’Substantial’ investment will be needed from island telecommunications providers to keep up with modern demands, a government department says.

A ’national infrastructure strategy’ will be placed before Tynwald for approval this week.

One of the main areas to be looked at by the Department of Infrastructure is the telecommunications sector and it will take major investment for the Isle of Man to keep up to speed.

’The provision of high quality, reliable and affordable telecommunications infrastructure will be crucial to developing the island’s economy,’ the DoI report states.

’As such, there will be a need for the telecommunication provision to be both up to date and quick to react to business needs.’

The report adds: ’The future demand for high speed data in the home will be seen as a utility akin to water, electricity or gas and this will need to be taken into consideration in the future planning of the island.

’This is likely to lead to a need to increase the provision of wi-fi connectivity and speed/download capacity of wi-fi across the island, as well as increased uses of telecommunications in the commercial sector.’

It says that island providers will follow global advances being made in 5G technology, which opens the possibility of a 5G wireless network across the island ’if the technology and installation is financially viable for them to do so’.

As well as increasing the speed of data transfer and downloads, it should increase connectivity and assist the wider development of the ’internet of things’, a network of internet-connected objects able to collect and exchange data using embedded sensors.

’However, the roll-out of a 5G network around the island will require substantial investment from the providers,’ says the report.

’It will require additional transmitters and receivers to be installed island-wide and will also rely on the goodwill of many landowners and property owners in order to do so.

’Market forces will also impact on the delivery of 5G, both in terms of consumer behaviour to pay for it, but also, should one provider pursue the implementation of 5G, it is then likely that others will follow.’

The report also points out fixed line broadband is ’essential’ to the economy and better services with improved connectivity are vital for economic growth.

Telecommunications is just one area covered by the strategy, which the department says aims to set out a framework to meet social and economic need for the next 30 years.

Tynwald will be asked to support the strategy this week.

It includes an audit, which finds the current infrastructure is generally in good condition having benefited from ’significant’ investment over the past 15 years.

The strategy will help to inform the planning and delivery of future capital schemes by identifying when assets need to be constructed or replaced. It also encourages ’partnership working’ across the public and private sectors.

Work should support the strategy’s overarching aim ’to ensure there is an integrated, reliable, secure and resilient provision of island-wide infrastructure that meets the social and economic needs of the island up to 2050’.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer said: ’The island’s infrastructure supports every facet of our lives. It enables the movement of people and goods, provides our homes and businesses with power, water and telecoms and helps our economy to flourish.

’The demands on our infrastructure are continually evolving and it is important to ensure we are well placed to respond to future needs.’

He added: ’It will coordinate efforts to ensure we prepare for the future in the most effective way possible.’