The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Attorney General has pledged that the bidding process for a second cellular licence will start “imminently”, with the Government committed to liberalising that market in “the shortest possible time”.

Addressing the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) conference in South Korea, Allyson Maynard-Gibson said the Christie administration was determined to end the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) monopoly and ensure there was competition in the cellular/mobile market.

“The Government of the Bahamas has commenced a number of bold initiatives...., including taking steps to remove existing monopolies or exclusive access within the cellular mobile sector,” Mrs Maynard-Gibson told the conference.

“It is recognised that competition is the most effective method to obtain world class service at affordable prices. The liberalisation process is ongoing, and the Government will imminently invite interested persons or entities to apply for the appropriate licences to operate cellular mobile networks in the Bahamas.”

She added: “The current ICT (information and communications technology) environment of the Bahamas is now well poised to accommodate an open and competitive cellular market, and to implement this development in an effective, expedited and transparent manner.

“All markets except the cellular mobile market have been open to competition since 2009, and those markets are overseen by an independent regulator, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority, known as URCA, which is fully empowered, consistent with international best practices, to regulate our electronic communications sector.”

Continuing this theme, Mrs Maynard-Gibson said: “The Government has also established administrative machinery to expedite the approvals process for new cellular mobile networks. It is intended that new providers should become operational in the shortest possible time.

“In addition to the cellular mobile market, we believe that there is room for further competition across the ICT sector, particularly in the markets for pay TV and broadband. The Bahamas would welcome the entry of additional players in any of our electronic communications market, and would be particularly receptive to those willing to partner with Bahamians in bringing enhanced technologies and increased competition, which will translate into educational, employment, entrepreneurial and growth opportunities for our citizens.”