URCA Director of Policy and Regulations Stephen Bereaux addresses the audience. Seated from left are URCA board members: Deputy Chairman J. Paul Morgan; Chairman Randol Dorsett; CEO Kathleen Riviere Smith; and General Counsel and Board Secretary C. Vincent Wallace Whitfield. (BIS Photo/Gena Gibbs) URCA Audience. (BIS Photos/Gena Gibbs)

NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Through regulating the electronic communication and telecommunication sector in The Bahamas, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) plans to improve consumer protection regulations and improve public access to electronic communications services.

URCA’s Director of Policy and Regulation Stephen Bereaux spoke to a gathering of some 50 Bahamians at The College of The Bahamas’ Hospitality Dining Room on Thompson Boulevard on May 21 explaining their mandate and updating the public on developments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Innovation and Connectivity.  The occasion was URCA’s Annual Oran Hearing themed “Innovation and Connectivity”

He said, “we are the managers of the radio frequency spectrum -- that is the airwaves that are used, the electronic magnetic waves that are used to carry broadcasting and wireless communication services -- we have a broad mandate.

“The sector earns just over $400 million dollars in revenues annually, which decreased slightly (by 1.49%) in 2014. That was accompanied by an increase, almost across the board, except for Pay TV and fixed line voice subscribers, of the number of subscribers for each service. So effectively although the sector earned less, more people benefited from the services of the sector, which we see as a good sign. It suggests that perhaps prices have gone down on average. People have gotten more for less.”
Mr. Bereaux explained that URCA’s regulatory role covers activities of all telecommunication providers, whether they are fixed, mobile, broadband, narrow band internet and data services, paging, or any activity involving telecommunications, including television and radio broadcasting. He also pointed out the efforts to prepare for competition in the cellular market.

“The most significant area of focus globally in relation to telecommunication is broadband access, and we are particularly excited, in the last year, to see significant growth of over 35% in the number of broadband mobile subscribers”, said Mr. Bereaux.

“International research has identified a direct correlation between the penetration of broadband access, particularly in developing countries, and GDP [Gross Domestic Product] of those economies. Broadband access is therefore a key driver of our economy in The Bahamas and we see that it’s perhaps URCA’s most significant objective, to drive and encourage broadband use by the public in The Bahamas. So, we are excited to see this positive development.”

Mr. Bereaux said URCA is seeking to put regulatory measures in place to ensure that the cellular mobile market operates in a fair manner with a level playing field once a new competitor is introduced to the currently monopolistic sector