Below are some commonly asked questions:
Q. What is the NTRC?
A. The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. Please see About Us page for more info.
Q. Who are the members of the NTRC?
A. The NTRC is comprised of five (5) government appointed Commissioners and an appointed Secretary. There are various support staff that assist in the day-to-day operations in Administrative, Engineering and Technical aspects.
Q. Why must Telecommunications be regulated?
A. To ensure a fair market and the best possible services for Vincentians.
Q. What is ECTEL?
Q. Why is St. Vincent and the Grenadines an ECTEL member?
ECTEL was created to achieve a liberalised and competitive telecommunications sector that is essential for the future economic and social development of the contracting states.
Q. Can I apply for "any and every" licence?
A. Any individual or company can apply for any licence offered by the NTRC. All licence applications must be completed separately* in triplicate and each application fee must be paid to the NTRC on submission.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all necessary documentation supports their request for a licence. The NTRC is not responsible for collecting application information for applicants. If in the process of review by the NTRC, information is found to be missing, the contact designated on the application form will be notified to make the required additions or corrections.
*Some forms have multiple licences attached to them (i.e. the Individual Licence form covers five (5) licence types - Fixed Public Telecommunications, Public Mobile Telecommunications, Public Radio Paging, Internet Networks/Services and Submarine Cable - and while one form may be filled in and the appropriate boxes checked, all relevant information for each licence requirement must be included in triplicate.
Q. What are the different types of licences?
A. There are two (2) types of licences - Individual and Class
Individual Licence has five (5) subcategories:
Fixed Public Telecommunications
Public Mobile Telecommunications
Submarine Cable
Public Radio Paging
Internet Networks/Services
Class Licence has eighteen (18) subcategories:
Internet Services Provision
Value Added Services
Private Networks / Services
Audio Text / Video Text
International Simple Voice Resale
Subscriber Television
Television Broadcast
Community Radio
Short Term ( < 15 days)
Land Mobile (based/mobile/handheld)
Maritime Mobile (based/mobile/handheld)
Aeronautical Radio (based/mobile/handheld)
Amateur Radio Station (novice/general/advanced/guest)
Citizen Band Radio
Internet Service
Ship Station
Family Radio
Q. How do I apply for a licence?
A. Print an application form [forms can be found on the Applications page]
Fill in all information requested. Submit the form in triplicate each with the signature of the applicant on the last page. Remit application fee as outlined on form.
Q. What is the amount of the application fee?
A. Application fees differ from licence to licence. Consult the Fee Regulation for all relevant fees. Fees must be paid at the time an application is submitted.
Q. Can I apply now and pay later?
A. No. Fees must accompany forms. Applications without the relevant fee will not be reviewed until the fee is remitted.
Q. What is a Frequency?
A. The number of complete oscillations per second of energy (as sound or electromagnetic waves).
Q. What is the Spectrum?
A. The entire range of wavelengths or frequencies of electromagnetic radiation extending from gamma rays to the longest radio waves and including visible light. More information is available on the Spectrum Management page.
