Bahamas Low-Power Device Approval

The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) is an independent regulatory authority in the area of  the Electronic Communications Sector (ECS) and the Electricity Sector (ES) in the Bahamas.

The URCA published Final Determination on the Guidelines for the Type Approval Certificate of Licence‐Exempt Radio Spectrum Devices. This document relates to the type approval process for low-power devices.

A type approval certificate must be obtained from URCA before a low-power device can be imported or used in the Bahamas. According to this document, the URCA is able to grant a type approval certificate for new categories of low power electronic communications devices if they:

1.do not cause significant interference to networks

2.meet the health and safety standards and do not cause harm to the user or other individuals

3.the electromagnetic emissions do not disrupt the operation of equipment operating nearby

If you want to import a low-power device to the market of the Bahamas, it must meet the following criteria:

1.must operate in compliance with the National Spectrum Plan of the Bahamas  

2.must have been tested by any URCA - approved Telecommunication Certification Body (“TCB”)

3.must have a unique identification label indicating that the device is authorized by an URCA approved telecommunication regulatory body

4.must only be capable of low-power radiation