ISLANDERS will avoid an increase in home and business telephone charges until at least the end of this year after the regulator forced Jersey Telecom to freeze its prices.

JT is the Island’s only fixed-line phone provider, but efforts are being made to open up the market to industry competitors which could give consumers more choice and may eventually even drive down prices.

The Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities said that restricting JT’s price until 31 December 2013 would allow rival telephone companies enough time to begin offering their services.