On June 8th 2016, the Government notified the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) to proceed with the licensing of the new cellular mobile company (NewCo). The Individual Operation Licence (IOL) and the Individual Spectrum Licence (ISL) were awarded on July 1st 2016 for a fifteen year period.
From the time that the licences were awarded, NewCo is required, on a phased basis, to satisfy the following coverage obligations:
| Within 3 months: | 99% in New Providence and 80% in Grand Bahama; |
| Within 6 months: | 75% in each of the islands of Eleuthera, Abaco, Bimini, Andros and Exuma (including Black Point, Little Farmers Cay, Staniel Cay and Stocking Island); |
| Within 8 months: | 85% in Andros and 99% in each of the islands of Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Abaco, Bimini and Exuma[1]; |
| Within 12 months: | 99% in each of the islands of Andros, Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador, Berry Islands, Inagua and Ragged Island; |
| Within 18 months: | 99% in each of the islands of Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Rum Cay and Mayaguana; and |
| Within 24 months: | 80% in each of the remaining Exuma Cays. |
A 99% coverage requirement, for example, means that NewCo will have to ensure that reliable service is available in 99% of the places where persons habitually live and traverse.
NewCo’s performance with respect to its licence obligations has been secured by a Performance Bond that was submitted to URCA shortly after the licences were issued.
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To Operate a Cellular Mobile Network and Provide Cellular Mobile Services in The BahamasSee details...