The Bahamas will not have a third mobile phone provider before the Davis administration's term in office ends although it has placed regulators on alert to crackdown on any anti-competitive practices.
The Nassau Tribune is reporting that the decision is communicated in the Government's draft electronic communications sector policy for 2023-2026, released for public and industry consultation late last week.
The new policy is based on government's acceptance that the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority's analysis that permitting a third operator to enter the Bahamian mobile market will not be commercially viable or help foster sustainable competition.
The rationale behind URCA's assessment was not revealed, although it's believed to be linked to the fact that The Bahamas' 400,000 population is simply not large enough to support three profitable operators.
As a result, the draft sector policy states that the Government proposes to refrain from licensing a third operator before the current policy ends in 2026, which is the year when the Davis administration's five-year term in office will likely end.
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