TELECOMS giant Cable & Wireless is the ‘natural candidate’ to take over Jersey Telecom, says the chief executive of the group’s international business.

Harris Jones, who was in the Island on Friday, indicated that the company is hungry to be the clear leader in the Channel Islands market.

Following a meeting with Economic Development Minister Philip Ozouf, Mr Jones said there had been a ‘candid and open’ discussion and added: ‘We think our aspirations and those of the States are hand in glove’.

On Thursday Treasury Minister Terry Le Sueur announced that he believed now was the right time to fully privatise Jersey Telecom.

The company has been incorporated since 2003 but the States has a 100% shareholding.

Asked whether Cable & Wireless intended to acquire JT, Mr Jones said: ‘Let’s just say that we are a natural candidate.

We are very committed to the Channel Islands and we are investing in our infrastructure.

Many of our markets are islands so we understand the economic constraints.

At the same time we have some understanding of the requirements needed to support the offshore banking business.