Telecoms & IT
From The Report: Bahrain 2013
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The Third National Telecommunications Plan, unveiled in 2012, lays out the goals of developing a national broadband network and providing the regulatory framework necessary for implementing fourth-generation long-term evolution (4G LTE) technology. A considerable improvement in the country’s ICT capabilities, represented by a jump of five places from 45th to 40th between 2011 and 2012 in the ICT Development Index, is forecast to continue. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), which regulates the industry, has pursued policies to encourage market liberalisation and fair competition among operators, which has been a very positive force in the market. In a small, but highly competitive market, the main telecommunications companies within Bahrain have worked to carefully position themselves over the past few years toward the unveiling of the 4G LTE spectrum, which, due to a high level of ICT interconnectedness and the tendency of the kingdom’s population to be early adapters of new technologies, will most likely be very popular and profitable.

This chapter contains a roundtable discussion with Sheikh bin Isa Al Khalifa, CEO, Batelco Group; Ulaiyan Al Wetaid, CEO, VIVA Bahrain; and Mohammed Zainalabedin, General Manager, Zain Bahrain.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Future oriented: Operators compete to offer next-generation mobile broadband services
OBG
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As Bahrain, already one of the GCC’s most diversified economies, looks to further broaden its economic base away from hydrocarbons, telecommunications will likely play a key role. Working toward that goal, and the overall improvement of the infrastructure and services available, the country has sought to recapture a competitive edge. The government of Bahrain has unveiled the Third National Telecommunications Plan, which commits it to the goals of developing a national broadband network and…

Interview

OBG talks to Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Chairman, Batelco Group; Ulaiyan Al Wetaid, CEO, VIVA Bahrain; Mohammed Zainalabedin, General Manager, Zain Bahrain
OBG
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Interview:Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa,Ulaiyan Al Wetaid,Mohammed Zainalabedin To what extent will the Third National Telecommunications Plan (NTP) affect local competition and enable both consumers and operators to capitalise on higher broadband speeds? SHEIKH HAMAD BIN ABDULLA AL KHALIFA: The key goal of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority’s (TRA) Third NTP is to focus on ensuring the massive upgrade of internet services for the entire country of Bahrain. Batelco…

Analysis

Need for speed: Mobile broadband infrastructure coming on-line
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As Bahrain’s data network providers have sought to meet the needs of the latest mobile smartphones, observers of the kingdom’s telecommunications market have noted the need to expand the radio spectrum. As far back as 2011, Reuters was reporting that the telecommunications operators within Bahrain were clamouring for access to additional portions of the radio spectrum, and the 2.6 GHz frequency band necessary for the provision of fourth-generation long-term evolution (4G LTE) technology in…

Overview

Innovative solutions: Efforts to upgrade infrastructure and promote e-services gather steam
OBG
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Throughout the 20th century the economy in Bahrain made a significant transition from pearl diving to hydrocarbons. In the 21st century, the kingdom has begun to shift the emphasis of its economy once again, this time towards what the Third National Telecommunications Plan (TNTP) calls a digital economy. In recent years, Bahrain’s IT sector has been driven by a number of factors that separates this small economy from its neighbours. The kingdom has sought to develop its telecommunications infrastructure…

Analysis

Getting up to speed: Laying the foundations to increase internet penetration through a national broadband network
OBG
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Since the introduction of market liberalisation 10 years ago, the government has tried to foster the provision of faster and more affordable internet access as one of its key development goals. This effectively led to the creation in 2003 of the Bahrain Internet Exchange (BIX), which operates within the market as a neutral and non-profit organisation. A key focus of the organisation is the development of a national broadband network (NBN), as laid out under the Third National Telecommunications…