A plan to make the island a world leader in telecommunications as been unveiled by the Council of Ministers.

CoMin’s response to the telecoms working group will be the driving document of the Communications Bill.

It explains that the Bill will see the island introduce new legislative powers the communications commission.

This includes new regulatory powers and penalties to assist it manage the telecoms market.

In August 2017, the national telecoms infrastructure committee reported that the island had five key problems with telecommunications:

lLack of strategic vision, direction and investment.

lThe risk of falling behind other jurisdictions.

lLack of economies of scale and effective and efficient competition, in the context of a small jurisdiction.

lWeak and outdated regulatory and legislative frameworks.

lLack of local solutions to local issues in global context’

In part response to this, an Office for Cyber Security and Information Assurance will be formed within the cabinet office with a remit to manage risk, cyber security and data protection. The plan for action also includes several policies that have target dates attached to them.

This includes mandatory sharing of telephone masts to be explored and a plan to incorporate a ’dig once’ policy where fibre cable ducting would be shared by early 2019.

Furthermore, the Council of Ministers has set out the target that the island will have a ’interim national minimum’ internet speed of 30Mb by 2020.

This is part of the island’s efforts to improve internet speeds after the island was ranked 50 out of 189 in the world for connectivity - just one place above Kenya.

As part of this plan, the government is deciding whether telecoms infrastrucuture can be classed as an essential utility.

Further to this, the government will promote the rollout of ’superfast fibre broadband’.

If successful, 80% of the island’s homes and businesses would gain fibre access.

It is believed this ongoing commitment can be met within the next four to five years under the direction of the Department for Enterprise.

The Communications Commission will work with government partners to promote the island as a testing zone for new technology.

This has previously been used when the island has tested some now- common telecoms systems.

CoMin also recognise the improvements that have already been made in the island’s telecoms service.

’Both Manx Telecom and Sure have introduced new roaming tariffs which include bundled EU allowances.’

It also notes an improvement in rural broadband and 4G connectivity, something the Chief Minister had called for earlier in the year.