The Belize Telecommunications Act,  liberalized telecommunications and made the PUC the industry regulator. In the first few months of assuming this role, the PUC implemented a licensing regime based on an open and transparent consultation process. A process of consultation with prospective players on license terms and conditions for new entrants and on price control and inter-connection set the stage for competition. License conditions and legal obligations require license holders to behave in a fair and non-discriminatory manner, to provide cost-oriented services to competitors, and to refrain from abuse of a dominant position with predatory or other anti-competitive practices

Licence Applications

Active Licence Applications

Processed Licence Applications

Spectrum Applications

Processed Spectrum Applications

Major activities undertaken by the Telecommunications Sector include the following:

• promote reliable and affordable telecommunication services,
• foster increased reliance on market forces for the provision of telecommunication services
• encourage investment and innovation within the telecommunication sector.
• regulate new and convergent technologies
• efficient Planning, Administration, Licensing and Management of our National Frequency Spectrum.
• responsible for Regulatory Framework both internationally and regionally in conjunction with recommendations laid out by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL).
• develop and formulate policies as it relates to the Frequency Spectrum Management, Interconnection, Infrastructure Sharing, and other related activities.

The PUC is also charged with regulating new and convergent technologies as they arise as well as the efficient Planning, Administration, Licensing and Management of our National Frequency Spectrum. The sector is also responsible for Regulatory Framework both internationally and regionally in conjunction with recommendations laid out by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL).

The Sector continues to develop and formulate policies as it relates to the Frequency Spectrum Management, Interconnection, Infrastructure Sharing, and other related activities. It continues to improve its Monitoring & Compliance Section. However, it continues to be overshadowed by various challenges within the Telecommunications Industry in Belize.

Belize is becoming one of the fast-growing telecom markets in the Caribbean and has seen an increase in the teledensity as well as a sharp decline in tariffs for various services within the sector thus, contributing to the economic growth of the country. 

Telecommunications along with Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT), has vastly accelerated the growth of the social and economic development of our country. Since telecommunications has now emerged as a key driver of our economic and social development in our ever-increasing knowledge-intensive society, we will PUC continue to play a leadership role in this industry in Belize.

The entities with licenses to provide telecommunication services include:

Interconnection Agreements

The radio spectrum is a scarce natural resource and has to be protected to guarantee that it is used effectively. This is a limited natural resource. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is mandated under the Telecommunication Act to ensure that Belize’s radio spectrum is used in an efficient and legal manner and adheres to the regulations issued by the PUC and aligns with ITU recommendations.

In order to manage the radio spectrum, the necessary tools are needed to detect and measure the signals that are actively using Belize radio spectrum. Such a tool is that of the mobile spectrum monitoring vehicle shown here above. This vehicle is capable of monitoring, measuring, and locating signals using the spectrum in verification of the licensed technical specifications. If, for any reason, a station is operated without a license, ignoring license stipulations such as frequency and output power, or causing interference to other services due to technical faults or deviation from the technical parameters given in the license, such a tool is used to identify the station to address its operation status or provide the necessary assistance to eliminate the problem.

The PUC strived to stay abreast of the latest technologies in order to carry out its day-to-day functions and this vehicle is only one of such tools used to manage Belize’s natural resource – our RF spectrum.

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