Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson told attendees at the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Busan, Korea, that in addition to the cellular/mobile market, the government wants to see more competition across the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, particularly in the markets for pay TV and broadband.
"The Bahamas would welcome the entry of additional players in any area 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," Maynard-Gibson said.
On the matter of liberalization of the mobile sector, the attorney general said that invitations for licences to operate cellular/mobile networks in The Bahamas are "imminent", as she laid out the government's ICT strategy.
Referencing the April 2014 electronic communications sector policy, which she said outlines critical policies for the growth and development of ICT within The Bahamas, Maynard-Gibson anticipated the breaking of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company's (BTC) monopoly in cellular services as a means of boosting competitiveness.
"A key thrust of our domestic policy is aimed at enabling and fostering greater access to world-class electronic communications services throughout the islands of The Bahamas," the attorney general said.
Among the targeted objectives of the policy are: The provision of a specified basic level of electronic communications services to all populated areas at affordable prices and free of charge to certain institutions of social and educational importance; ensuring that key institutions in the public and private sectors have access to domestic and international electronic communications, which are capable of withstanding natural disasters and which support the essential governance, social and economic institutions, and ensuring the availability of reliable, reasonably-priced broadband Internet access to residents and visitors.
She also said the policy aims to ensure the use of ICT in the delivery of health, education and government services, which is essential in an archipelagic nation.
"The government of The Bahamas has commenced a number of bold initiatives to achieve these goals, including taking steps to remove existing monopolies or exclusive access within the cellular/mobile sector," Maynard-Gibson said. "It is recognized that competition is the most effective method to obtain world-class service at affordable prices. The liberalization 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 said The Bahamas is "well-poised to accommodate an open and competitive cellular market and to implement this development in an effective, expedited and transparent manner", noting that every market except cellular has been open to competition since 2009.
"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," she advised.
Maynard-Gibson led a Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) delegation to the Plenipotentiary Conference. The ITU is the United Nations' specialized agency for ICT and the Plenipotentiary Conference is the key event at which ITU member states (193 countries, including The Bahamas) decide on the future role of the organization, thereby determining the organization's ability to influence and affect the development of ICT worldwide.
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