The Belizean government, under Prime Minister John Briceño, has initiated a significant regulatory overhaul of the nation’s telecommunications sector. New legislation is currently being drafted to establish price controls for both telecom and broadband services, responding directly to concerns raised by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). This regulatory intervention comes amid the proposed acquisition deal between BTL and Speednet, though the Prime Minister emphasized these consumer protection measures will proceed regardless of the merger’s outcome.
The regulatory framework aims to address market dominance concerns, with BTL currently controlling approximately 60% of telecommunications and 50% of broadband services. The Prime Minister stated that the primary objective is to prevent arbitrary price increases and ensure fair industry practices, noting that similar regulatory oversight already exists for utilities such as energy and water.
Regarding satellite internet services, Prime Minister Briceño addressed questions about Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture. While indicating he wasn’t aware of any recent license modification requests from the company, he clarified that Starlink services could be permitted in areas where local providers don’t currently offer coverage. These decisions would fall under the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission, maintaining the government’s commitment to expanding internet access to underserved regions while protecting consumer interests.