East Caribbean Ministers approve new telecommunications regulations in sub-region

New regulations encourage more competition in the telecommunications sector

The Council of Ministers of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) has approved new regulations aimed at enhancing the environment for competition in the telecommunications sector in the sub-region.

A statement issued in Castries, St.Lucia on Monday noted that the new regulations were approved at the 34th regular Council meeting and address consumer protection, unfair restrictions on consumer choices in services, and submarine cable regulations, which set out conditions for fair access to submarine cable capacity.

The new regulations also cover access to network infrastructure and wholesale services regulations, which impose conditions on licensees holding significant market power to share their networks, in addition to regulations and guidelines on the conduct of market analyses.

The statement said that the Council discussed the current work being undertaken by the ECTEL and the national regulatory bodies to address the impact of the Cable & Wireless/Columbus merger on the markets, and approved recommendations on new licences for telecommunications service providers.

Earlier this year, ECTEL announced that negotiations regarding the multi-billion dollar merger had broken down without the parties reaching an amicable agreement.

ECTEL chairman – St. Lucia’s Telecom Minister Guy Joseph – said with rapid technological changes both the regulator and the telecommunications service providers must adjust their business practices in order to better serve the consumers in the region.

The statement noted that over the next 2 months, the Council of Ministers will facilitate presentations in their respective countries to familiarize ministers and parliamentarians with the purposes and provisions of the new legislation.

The meeting also approved the work plan and budget to fund the operations of the national Commissions and ECTEL for the financial year October 2016 to September 30, 2017.

“The ECTEL Council of Ministers approved a contribution from the Member States to address the emergency rehabilitation of the people of Haiti who lost lives, property and livelihoods following the passage of hurricane Matthew in September 2016,” the statement stated, noting that a similar financial contribution had been made to the French Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country following the destruction caused by the massive earthquake in 2010.

ECTEL is the telecommunications regulator for St. Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. -(CMC)