Gibraltar’s telecommunications sector is undergoing a radical transformation that is already yielding significant benefits for business and home users alike.

The entrance of a new player into a market traditionally dominated by a single service provider has increased choice for the consumer and is helping to drive down prices.

Yet beyond a simple reduction in costs, the new market climate is expanding the Rock’s communications framework to meet the growing demands of vital sectors of the local economy, including international business sectors including gaming and finance.

For the average telecoms user, perhaps the most evident of the recent changes stems from the political accord reached in Cordoba last year between the governments of Gibraltar, Spain and the UK.

Spain’s recognition of Gibraltar’s 350 international dialling prefix has opened the way for mobile roaming across the border, a development whose impact cannot be understated.

Gone are the days when Gibraltar mobile phone users needed two numbers – one local, one Spanish – in order to keep in touch. For business users with interests in Spain, this has been a welcome step toward normality.

The recognition of the 350 code has not been without its problems, as we report elsewhere in this issue of B2B. Callers trying to phone Gibraltar say they frequently experience difficulties in getting through, an issue that has raised serious concerns in the business community. But officials are working to address these technical teething problems, and in general the shift to 350 has been broadly welcomed.