The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission has designated LIME BVI as the dominant Internet service provider in the territory, paving the way for possible regulation that the TRC claims could ultimately lower costs for consumers.
Last Thursday the commission published a “determination of dominance,” which will allow it to apply regulatory measures under the Telecommunications Act 2006 to lower the price of international Internet access, according to a TRC press release.
“Prices for international connectivity are very high in the BVI and the proposed regulation is long overdue,” said Sarah Hayes, chief economist at the TRC. “This determination of dominance will also then lead into the forthcoming broadband market analysis.”
The decision to determine LIME as dominant in the market followed a consultation on the TRC’s Market Analysis of International Connectivity, which was published on Dec. 13, 2012.
The analysis noted the high costs of international bandwidth “on and off the island” and the fact that LIME BVI was the only company providing connectivity between the VI and the rest of the world, according to the release.
The TRC will now embark on a 30-day period of negotiation with LIME over access prices.
See the Oct. 3, 2013 edition for full coverage.
{fcomment}