By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE selection of the country’s second cellular mobile provider has been delayed, Prime Minister Perry Christie revealed during his 2015-2016 Budget communication yesterday.

In February, Mr Christie said he hoped to announce the successful applicant for the second mobile license this month.

“I have now been advised that recent developments have led URCA (the Utilities, Regulation and Competition Authority), in consultation with the (Cellular Liberalisation) Task Force and their advisors, to extend its deliberations to ensure the integrity of the selection process is preserved,” Mr Christie said.

He did not say when these deliberations will be complete, although he said he has been assured that any resulting delay will be minimised as much as possible.

The Cellular Liberalisation Task Force was appointed last year to establish and manage the process of choosing a second mobile provider.

Mr Christie said despite delays in the process since it began last year, he is satisfied that “key milestones have been achieved”.

Last month, the task force announced the completion of the first phase of the selection process, with Cable Bahamas Limited and Virgin Mobile Bahamas Limited left to battle for the second cellular license.

A third applicant, Digicel Bahamas Limited, withdrew from the process before that announcement.

“The benefits of cellular liberalisation have the potential to stimulate significant growth and development of our country, and this is one of the primary reasons that the initiative has been a high priority for this administration,” Mr Christie said.

“Experience has demonstrated that in a competitive environment, service providers would have greater incentive to, amongst other things: improve on the quality of services that are provided (and) extend service coverage throughout The Bahamas. In the final analysis, however, the main immediate outcome of competition is that more persons in The Bahamas will have access to technologies that will deliver broadband services as well as voice services. We anticipate an even greater uptake of mobile broadband services with the entry of a second mobile operator, since all of the applicants to the cellular liberalisation process have committed to using the latest in cellular mobile and broadband technology.”