The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) today commenced the second round of consultation on its proposed Infrastructure Sharing Regulations. During the first round of consultation, which closed on February 13, 2015, URCA received responses from three companies, JazzTel Bahamas Limited, BTC and Cable Bahamas Limited. These responses may be viewed on URCA’s website at www.urcabahamas.bs/consultations.php?cmd=view&article=389.

As The Bahamas prepares for the liberalization of the mobile sector, with the imminent introduction of mobile competition, URCA’s role is to encourage the development of competition in the Electronic Communications Sector by reducing barriers to entry. URCA is cognizant that the high costs associated with the deployment of an electronic communications network represent one of the most significant barrier to entry in the sector. The proposed regulations supports one of URCA’s key functions of promoting the availability of a wide range of high quality, efficient, cost effective and competitive electronic communications services throughout The Bahamas from those licensees who will be subject to these Regulations.

Additional benefits to infrastructure sharing include:

· Ease of network roll-out by a new entrant

· Availability of a new source of revenue (for existing operators)

· Improved quality of service and increased consumer choice

· Avoidance of duplication of towers;

· Minimization of adverse visual and environmental impact of towers; and

· Reduction of negative environmental impact

The second round of consultation will close on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Interested members of the public may submit feedback to the responses received to URCA’s Chief Executive Officer as follows:

· by hand to URCA’s office at UBS Annex Building, East Bay Street, Nassau; or

· mail to P.O. Box N‐4860, Nassau, Bahamas; or

· fax to (242) 393‐0153; or

· email to info@urcabahamas.bs