PUC Confirms BTL Dominance, Separates Study from Merger Decision

Today, the Public Utilities Commission released the results of its long‑awaited public consultation on dominance in the telecommunications market, and the findings are quite clear: BTL is the dominant player. But the commission is stressing that this study has been more than a year in the making and should not be seen as a signal of how it will rule on the proposed BTL–Speednet merger. In fact, officials say that’s exactly why they called today’s press conference, to draw a clear line between the two. Here’s how the PUC explains its position.

 

Stacy Grinage, Internal Legal Counsel, PUC

“What it does is that we have identified certain remedial effects that we can implement as the PUC if such a determination. If this determination is made we intend to implement certain remedies that we believe will maintain the market.”

 

Sheena Garnett, Communication Affairs Manager, PUC

“If this public consultation on the assessment of the telecoms sector’s market dominance assessment, what this public consultation does not do, it does not approve, reject, or put any penalties. It does not approve, reject any mergers , any acquisitions or transactions any at all. This public consultation is clear on not doing those things. What it does is allow us to look at the market and this document has been in place way before the realization of a proposed acquisition. What we need to do is put things in place and identify the changes in the market and this is the legal structure that we can use for it.”

 

Reporter

“For the avoidance of doubt this is not an exercise that springs out of the notice you received on January right, this is an independent coincident exercise that started months ago.”

 

Sheena Garnett

“Yes, it is an independent exercise that started months ago.”

 

Reporter

“How many months ago?”

 

Abraham Tech, Director, Regulated Services

“About twelve months ago.”

 

So, while the PUC has confirmed BTL’s dominance in the telecoms market, regulators insist the year‑long study is separate from, and has no bearing on the pending BTL‑Speednet merger decision.