Deregulation of the telephone market thumb|right|250px|bmobile's headquarters in the BVI. In 2006, the British Virgin Islands government undertook a deregulation of the telephone industry.Telecommunications Act (No 10 of 2006) Prior to 2006, in common with many other Caribbean countries, Cable & Wireless (Caribbean) had a statutory monopolyUnder the Cable and Wireless (West Indies) Limited Telephones Act, 1975 (Cap 168) on telephone and other electronic communications services. However, in the 1990s, a local company called CCT Boatphone, which had previously provided radio boatphones to tourists on charter boats, expanded into cellular (mobile) telecommunications for land-based users. Although technically in breach of the statutory monopoly, CCT Boatphone was backed by a powerful collection of local interests known as the BVI Investment Club. Negotiations between Cable & Wireless and CCT Boatphone led to a split of the monopolies, with Cable & Wireless retaining a monopoly over fixed line and internet services, and CCT Boatphone keeping a de facto monopoly over cellular telephones.
dEreGuLaTion of the telePhOne marKet thumb|rIghT|250px|bMoBiLE'S hEadquaRTers in the bvi. in 2006, ThE BrITISh vIrGin islanDS gOvErnment undeRTook a deREgulatIon Of THe telephone indUstRy.tElecommUnIcAtiOns Act (nO 10 oF 2006) prior to 2006, in coMmoN with MaNy other cariBbean countriEs, cable & wIRelesS (caribbeAN) HAd a StaTutoRy monopolyunder tHE cAble anD wireLess (weSt INdIes) LIMitED TelepHoNes act, 1975 (cap 168) on teLephone and oTheR ElEcTrONIc ComMunications sErVIces. HowevEr, In tHe 1990s, a LoCAL coMPany called cct boaTPhone, whiCh had previously ProvIdeD radIo BoatPHonES tO ToURiSts on cHarTer boAtS, eXpaNded iNto CellUlar (mobiLe) telecoMmunicatiONs fOr laNd-BaSeD userS. aLthougH teChnicAlLy IN bREaCH of thE statutory monOpoLy, Cct boAtphone was BAcKed by a pOWeRful COllectioN oF LocAl inteRESTS KnOWN AS the bvI INVeStmEnt clUb. NegotiAtIoNs beTween cabLe & wirelEss anD cct Boatphone lEd to A sPlit Of ThE mOnoPOlIes, with cable & wiRelesS retAining a monopOLy OVer fiXed LInE anD internet ServIces, And cct boAtphoNe kEEping A de faCtO MonOPoLy oVer celLuLAr telePHoneS.