On December 14, 2016 Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) issued its Preliminary Determination providing for the implementation of Mobile Number Portability in The Bahamas (ECS 40/2016). The full document is available for download from URCA’s website at www.urcabahamas.bs. Number Portability (NP) enables persons to keep their telephone number(s) when switching providers, and while The Bahamas has benefitted from NP in respect of fixed telephone numbers since December 2013, NP for mobile telephone numbers is being implemented following the introduction of cellular mobile competition.
Subject to consideration of comments received from interested parties, URCA is proposing in this preliminary determination to have mobile NP implemented and operational in The Bahamas from 14 February 2017.
Annexed to the preliminary Determination is the Local Number Portability (LNP) Business Rules which provide the necessary rules in respect of NP for both fixed and mobile subscribers in The Bahamas.
Consistent with the procedure set out in section 100 of the Comms Act, interested parties are advised that if they wish to make representations on any matter contained in this Preliminary Determination they may do so in writing to URCA. Such representations must be received by URCA by no later than 20 January 2017. URCA shall consider any representations made and make its Final Determination and any appropriate Order.
URCA may request from any affected party such additional information as is reasonably required to make a Final Determination. Representations should be submitted to:
Director of Electronic Communications,
URCA,
Frederick House,
Frederick Street,
P.O. Box N-4860
Nassau, The Bahamas
Email: info@urcabahamas.bs
Fax: 242.393.0237