Interview: Philip Marnick
How could regulatory changes boost the country’s attractiveness as an ICT investment destination?
PHILIP MARNICK: Bahrain is making significant strides towards achieving the objectives outlined in its fifth National Telecommunications Plan, the blueprint for the country’s communications sector. Bahrain aims to become a frontrunner in innovation and investment, fostering the growth of ideas and the development of solutions for both businesses and individuals.
To realize this vision, Bahrain has implemented a regulatory framework that actively promotes innovation, investment and a competitive market. With its advanced market and business-friendly environment, Bahrain stands out as an ideal destination for companies to test and refine cutting-edge technologies.
The kingdom’s plans to become one of the world’s most well-connected nations, boasting advanced infrastructure and a platform for innovation and experimentation. This makes Bahrain an excellent choice for developing and hosting iCT services.
In what ways are fast-paced digital developments shaping future labour market needs in Bahrain?
MARNICK: Bahrain has a highly skilled workforce. We have been working with Tamkeen’s Skills Bahrain initiative to help ensure we have the capabilities we need for the future. The new initiative seeks to provide the resources and tools required to support career guidance and workforce development for professions in high demand in the current and evolving labour market. It works to facilitate a smooth transition from education to employment. To assist in this effort, the TRA is reviewing what ICT skills are required for the future.
We have been working with academia to bring people together to solve problems collectively rather than individually. One example is the initiative to create Arabic versions of domain names and encourage their use. Some companies’ systems are designed to reject non-English alphabet domain names and e-mail addresses, so we are working with international companies to ensure inclusion. Our overall approach is to understand problems and work with relevant bodies and universities to address them, while encouraging people to engage and participate in the process.
To what extent are improvements needed to address cybersecurity risks and increase data protection in a digitalised economy?
MARNICK: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has overall responsibility for cybersecurity, while the TRA is responsible for security in the telecommunications sector. The two entities have worked collaboratively to ensure that we have protections and procedures in place for any issues that may arise. In our increasingly online society it is crucial that we keep both systems and people safe. Accordingly, we have run workshops and scenario planning exercises with industry players to prepare for possible cyberthreats. We have also run educational campaigns about online safety through TV ads, training sessions and university programmes, raising awareness about cybersecurity risks and the importance of network protection.
Although 5G has enabled businesses to provide services and improve their operations, it does not mean an absence of cyberthreats. The biggest change is happening in the digitalisation of industry and the use of wireless technologies, as what people are often referring to when they mention 5G is businesses using wireless technology. This digitalisation is already happening in factories and other industries, and we have enabled this transition by assisting companies in their digital transformation and sharing lessons learned across sectors, helping them learn from one another.
However, as smaller companies may not have the same level of protection as larger firms, we are addressing this by tailoring solutions for the former. Our collaboration with the NCSC is key in this context to set standards and provide products for small businesses.
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