Under the Post Office Act and Postal Services (Authorisation) Regulations 2012, the Authority is responsible for designating one or more undertaking(s) as universal service provider(s) (“USP”) in the postal services market for such a period as may be specified by the Authority. In doing so, the Authority shall take such measures as it considers necessary to ensure that the conditions under which universal services are assigned are based on the principles of transparency, non-discrimination and proportionality so as to guarantee the continuity of the universal service provision.

In 2013, the Authority designated the RGPO as the USP for a period of 7 years ending on the 17th July 2020. Consequently, it is time for the Authority to revisit the current universal service designation and carry out a new public consultation.