WHAT IS ECTEL?

ECTEL is the regulatory body for telecommunications in its five Member States. It is made up of three components – A Council of Ministers, a regional Directorate and a National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) in each Member State.

HOW DID ECTEL COME ABOUT ?

The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) was established on 04 May 2000 by a Treaty signed in St. George’s, Grenada, by the Governments of five Eastern Caribbean States (Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines) to promote market liberalization and competition in telecommunications.

WHAT IS NTRC?

A National Regulatory Telecommunications Commission (NTRC) was established in each of the five ECTEL member states to regulate and coordinate telecommunications at the national level. Among other things, the NTRC is responsible for the processing of applications, advising the Minister responsible for Telecommunications on the award of licences, monitoring spectrum use and dispute resolution.

WHAT SERVICES ARE REGULATED BY ECTEL?

ECTEL regulates the following service

WHAT DOES TELECOMMUNICATIONS INVOLVE?

The Telecommunications Sector involves all entities that transmit signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. Modern telecommunications is electronic and digital, and includes the use of telephones, telegraphs, radio and microwave communications, fiber optics, orbiting satellites and the internet.

WHAT IS RADIO SPECTRUM?

The term ‘radio spectrum’ refers to the part of the electromagnetic spectrum which is usable for radio transmissions. The radio spectrum is made up of a range of radio frequencies and are used in a wide range of different communications equipment, e.g. television, radio, mobile phones, cordless telephones, paging devices, etc.

WHAT SERVICES REQUIRE LICENCES?

In accordance with the Telecommunications Acts, the following services and/or activities require licences in order to operate legitimately in the ECTEL member states:

• Telecommunications Networks
• Telecommunications Services
• Radio-communication Stations or Apparatus (this includes on ships, aircraft, satellite or vessels registered in, or operating in or over the territorial waters of the islands.) Radio Transmitting Station or Apparatus.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR A LICENCE?

Any individual or company can apply for any license through the respective NTRC in each country.

IS THERE A LICENCE FOR USE OF RADIO SPECTRUM?

Any service requiring the use of radio spectrum must be granted a frequency authorisation by ECTEL.

WHAT DOES ISP MEAN?

ISP stands for internet service provider. An ISP is a company that provides your internet connection, enabling you to go online.