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Bahamas Regulator Issues 700Mhz Radio Spectrum Licenses
Published on:
The Bahamas based telecoms regulator, URCA has awarded a 700 MHz spectrum
license to the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC). The license is valid
for of fifteen years and are approved for use by LTE services.
A license for Cable Bahamas Limited (CBL) is also expected to be issued shortly.
This follows a competitive evaluation process initiated in March 23rd, when URCA issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for the newly opened 700 MHz spectrum band. A total of five applications were received.
URCA made 72 MHz of the 108 MHz band available for this process. Operators were permitted to submit applications for specified blocks within the bandwidth, up to a maximum of 24 MHz, and not including blocks reserved for public health and safety use (12 MHz) and additional mobile services (24 MHz) when BTC's exclusivity in the mobile market expires in April 2014.
BTC must make 700 MHz spectrum services available to at least 75% of populations in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera within 18 months of the issue date of the license; with improvement to 99% coverage on those islands within 30 months plus the addition of at least two family islands.
Subsequent additions of not less than two additional islands by both 42- and 54-month milestones are required. In each instance 75% population coverage is the minimum standard.
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