The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL)

Submitted by katharina on 28 October 2011 - 11:33am

The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) is the only multi-state telecommunications regulator in the world. It is fully funded by fees and tariffs applied to the licensed service providers, and stands as a symbol of functional cooperation within the OECS region. Among the primary goals are the promotion of open entry, market liberalization and competition in the telecommunications sector in the Member countries.

Key Information
28 October 2011
Timeframe: 
Ongoing since May 2004
Case Study
Background: 

ECTEL is the regulatory body for telecommunications in its Member States. ECTEL is made up of three components: A Council of Ministers, which sets general telecommunications and information and communications technology (ICT) policy; a regional directorate based in Saint Lucia, which provides technical advice and makes recommendations on licensing, interconnection and telecommunications resource use; and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commissions (NTRC), one in each Member State, which receive policy guidance and technical advice from the regional directorate. ECTEL manages the common telecommunications resources such as radio spectrum, numbering and a universal service fund on behalf of the Member States.

Results Achieved: 

ECTEL has demonstrated in many ways the political and economic gains of regional integration. Also, the consumers have benefited significantly from the work of ECTEL in the maintenance of the liberalized environment. In the first decade,
• ECTEL completed fifteen harmonised regulations on a wide range of matters, including interconnection, spectrum management, quality of service, numbering, fees and exemptions, licensing, and universal service.
• There has been a four-fold growth in the revenues from the sector to the financial and telecommunications regulatory institutions in the countries.
• Revenues generated by the sector as a whole, grew from EC$611 million in 2004 to EC$790 million in 2007.
• Outgoing traffic from mobile phones in the five countries have grew from 115 million minutes in 2004 to 621 million minutes in 2008.
• The per-minute price of a call, for example, from one of the member countries to the United States dropped from an average of EC$4.60 to EC$0.60 per minute, depending on the calling plans.
• The number of mobile telephone subscribers per 100 persons has grown from 2% in 2000 to over 100% in 2010.
• Internet usage is also on the rise. To date, over eighty percent of small and medium sized enterprises in the ECTEL countries use the internet and have established electronic local area networks.
• Increased employment with the entry of new providers.

Main Activities: 

• Deregulate the telecoms sector and develop a suitable regulatory environment to ensure new operators are licensed, barriers to market energy are removed and the interconnection between the incumbent and new service providers can be effected.
• Ensure a suitable legislative framework and consistency in the application of laws.
• Ensure workable arrangements for universal access to basic services, particularly to low income segments of the population, and thereby ensure that consumers access the services at affordable prices.
• Administer a two-tiered arrangement, at the national and regional level.
• Attract significant investment from new entrants and also from existing service providers in preparing for competition.
• Ensure that new innovative services are provided to consumers.

Future Replicability
Lessons Learned: 

The economic environment must be conducive to the expansion of the ICT sector and the introduction of new services through technological innovation.

Key to Success for Future Replicability: 

• Ensure the cooperation among countries and sectors, on both institutional innovations and human resources utilization, and ensure the effective and efficient utilization of the communication resources.
• Re-examine the organization’s role within the frame work of the new arrangement.
• Build public awareness of the institution and its work in the member states.
• Protect children and systems from cyber criminals.

Contacts: 

Focal point(s) in lead country/organization
Len Ishmael
OECS Director General
1-758-455-6327 / 1-758-455-6300
lishmael@oecs.org