On 9 December 2024, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) published the consultation document titled “Regulatory Framework for Satellite-based Electronic Communications Services in The Bahamas ECS 75/2024” (‘First Consultation Document’).
The First Consultation Document presented URCA’s initial observations and draft proposals to update the existing regulatory framework governing the provision of satellite-based electronic communications services in The Bahamas, and sought feedback from interested parties on the proposals. The first consultation round closed on 17 January 2025.
During the first consultation round, URCA received responses from 10 parties:
- The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited (‘BTC’);
- Joint group response from Cable Bahamas Limited and Be Aliv Limited (‘CBL Group’);
- E-Space Inc. (‘E-Space’);
- Eutelsat Group (‘Eutelsat’);
- Global Satellite Operators Association (‘GSOA’);
- Plan-S Satellite and Space Technologies Inc. (‘Plan-S’);
- Rivada Space Networks (‘Rivada’);
- Sateliot IoT Services, S.L. (‘Sateliot’);
- Space Exploration Technologies and its subsidiary Starlink Services Bahamas Limited (‘Starlink’); and
- Viasat.
Upon further consideration, URCA has now decided to hold a second consultation round due to the need to allow interested parties to comment on the first-round responses and for URCA to consult on additional proposals.
The deadline for responding is 29 August 2025. Written responses or comments should be sent to URCA’s Director of Electronic Communications by email to info@urcabahamas.bs.
After receiving the comments on the first-round responses due 29 August 2025, URCA will publish a second consultation document seeking feedback on additional proposals that were not included in the First Consultation Document and summarizing the responses received up to that time.
This second consultation document will be published following the completion of the ongoing public consultation on the National Spectrum Plan to ensure alignment with national spectrum management objectives.
In the final step, URCA will publish a Statement of Results and Final Decision.
The responses to the first round of consultation can be found here:
BTC-Response-to-ECS-752024-Satellite-Regulatory-Framework-Consultation.pdf
CBL-Response-to-ECS-752024-Satellite-Regulatory-Framework-Consultation.pdf
E-Space-Response-to-ECS-752024-Satellite-Regulatory-Framework-Consultation.pdf
Eutelsat-Group-Response-to-ECS-752024-Satellite-Regulatory-Framework-Consultation.pdf
GSAO-Response-to-ECS-752024-Satellite-Regulatory-Framework-Consultation.pdf
PLAN-S-Response-to-ECS-752024-Satellite-Regulatory-Framework-Consultation.pdf
Rivada-Response-to-ECS-752024-Satellite-Regulatory-Framework-Consultation.pdf
Starlink-Response-to-ECS-752024-Satellite-Regulatory-Framework-Consultation.pdf
Sateliot-Response-to-ECS-752024-Satellite-Regulatory-Framework-Consultation.pdf
Viasat-Response-to-ECS-752024-Satellite-Regulatory-Framework-Consultation.pdf