The States Assembly will be asked to approve to a 'specific and time limited exemption' to Guernsey's competition law to enable the purchase to go ahead.

Jersey's Competition and Regulatory Authority approved the move earlier this summer.

In Guernsey, it is being managed by the Committee for Economic Development, which has discussed it with the local regulator.

To enable the purchase to go ahead there has to be a specific, time-limited exemption to Guernsey's competition law, by way of an Ordinance.

Economic Development has backed this by a majority and its president, deputy Neil Inder, says there are wider benefits to the deal:

"The commitments from Sure secure the best possible outcomes for consumers and guarantees large-scale investment in Guernsey.

The Competition Law includes a mechanism for the States to provide an exemption exactly for this kind of scenario, where the wider economic benefits outweigh any concerns around the impact on competition within the market."

Islanders are being assured that if Sure does buy Airtel, there will still be three telecoms companies to choose from, as the Co-Op will enter the market, using Sure's network.

Conditions will be imposed on Sure, including a binding commitment to build a 5G network and £17M to be spent on improving the telecoms infrastructure, along with better network security and fewer telecoms masts.

Alistair Beak, Sure Group CEO, said: “The legally binding commitments to invest and transform telecommunications and put in place enhanced consumer protections will ensure Guernsey will have world class digital infrastructure and services for the future.

"We are hopeful that Deputies will recognise these benefits and are looking forward to engaging with as many of them as possible to answer any questions they might have.” 

It is expected to be debated at the October States sitting.