Selection of mobile provider has been delayed

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.”

Comments

cocacola1 says...

whats new -_- something is always delayed here -_-

Posted 28 May 2015, 1:29 p.m. Suggest removal

asiseeit says...

Perry and the PLP had their hearts set on Digicell and now that they have withdrawn they do not know what to do. How are they going to get their cut?

Posted 28 May 2015, 1:54 p.m. Suggest removal

White_Massa says...

**BLACK POLITICIAN MASSA KEEPING THE POOR BLACK MAN DOWN**

Posted 28 May 2015, 2:58 p.m. Suggest removal

vinceP says...

Hey, Its simple, They will get their cut through the allege "PLP Crony/Virgin Mobile partnership.

Posted 28 May 2015, 3:39 p.m. Suggest removal

realfreethinker says...

Have these assholes ever seen a deadline they can keep ?

Posted 28 May 2015, 3:45 p.m. Suggest removal

papasmurff36 says...

Everything with this PLP government is a delay.

Posted 28 May 2015, 7:06 p.m. Suggest removal

FNM_Retards says...

4 1/2 years before the FNM began to do most of the stuff they promised in their Manifesto. Just saying. And the things they did do prior to that resulted in long delays. So the correct sentence should read "Everything the PLP and FNM governments do result in delays". Lets face reality though, you are talking about 3rd world governments.

Posted 28 May 2015, 8:53 p.m. Suggest removal

FNM_Retards says...

We need a new CABLE provider.

Posted 28 May 2015, 9:05 p.m. Suggest removal

ObserverOfChaos says...

Delayed: Meaning "we haven't found a way to blackmail them to paying us or making us majority owners"...

Posted 29 May 2015, 1:11 p.m. Suggest removal

realfreethinker says...

I believe that is the reason,or you are not to far off on this

Posted 29 May 2015, 1:45 p.m. Suggest removal

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