The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (‘URCA’) issues the Statement of Results and
Final Decision (ECS 03/2025) along with the revised Retail Pricing Rules (ECS 04/2025).
URCA completed a review of key retail fixed electronic communications services markets,
covering fixed voice (or landline), fixed broadband, and pay TV services on 1 August 2024.1 One
of the outcomes of the market review is the revision of the Retail Pricing Rules (ECS 06/2014)
which have been in place since 16 April 2014.
The Retail Pricing Rules, also referred to as the Rules, apply to operators who are designated as
having Significant Market Power (SMP) in specified product markets. The Rules outline the
procedures that SMP providers must follow when introducing new services, modifying the
prices or terms and conditions of existing services, or withdrawing/discontinuing a service.
URCA published a consultation document on 4 December 2024 seeking feedback from
interested parties on its proposed revisions to the Retail Pricing Rules. URCA received written
responses from The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited (‘BTC’) and Cable
Bahamas Limited (‘CBL’).
Having reviewed the feedback from the consultation, URCA responds to the feedback and
provides its conclusions in the Statement of Results (ECS 03/2025). The revised Retail Pricing
Rules (ECS 04/2025) will repeal and replace the previous Retail Pricing Rules and will come into
effect immediately upon publication.
The revised Rules allow SMP operators more flexibility while still allowing URCA to monitor
changes and developments and protect consumers from excessive pricing. The key
requirements are summarised below.
Full PDF’s can be found below.
Press Release – URCA Releases Revisions to the ECS Retail Pricing Rules
URCA 032025 – SoR and FINAL DETERMINATION ON REGULATION OF RETAIL PRICES FOR SMP OPERATORS