Telecoms & IT
From The Report: Bahrain 2016
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Bahrain is home to one of the most liberalised telecoms sectors in the Middle East. Although it is a relatively small market, the country is keen to leverage telecommunications to facilitate broader economic growth, with the third National Telecommunications Plan, issued in 2012 and running until end-2015, envisaging the industry as a key enabler of socioeconomic development. Data services have continued to witness exploding demand in the country, with mobile broadband accounting for 38% of usage in the fourth quarter of 2013, up from 35% in the first quarter. In response to expected continued growth trajectories, the government has allocated funds of $68.5m between 2013 and 2017 for the further development of the national broadband network.

This chapter contains an interview with Muna Al Hashemi, CEO, Batelco.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Diversifying trends: New entrants and sector reforms increase competition and service offerings
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Bahrain is home to one of the most liberalised telecoms markets in the Middle East. Although it is a relatively small market, with a population of 1.3m in 2014, according to the Central Informatics Organisation, its official statistics agency, the country is keen to leverage the telecoms sector to facilitate broader economic growth, and the authorities are continuing to promote both new entrants and investment in networks. Bahrain’s telecoms market is witnessing a period of consolidation, with…

Interview

Cloud nine: OBG talks to Muna Al Hashemi, CEO, Batelco
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Interview:Muna Al Hashemi To what extent would more infrastructure sharing help provide better service for customers? MUNA AL HASHEMI: In the mobile technology context, infrastructure sharing can help expand coverage to previously unserved or congested areas, which then translates into better quality of service. Infrastructure sharing would also reduce operational and investment costs, which would give the public better value for money for telecommunications services. As a general policy,…

Analysis

Network restructuring: The government is seeking a regulatory structure that will maximise broadband coverage
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Telecoms operators across Bahrain have become increasingly spectrum-hungry over the past few years. Since the late 2000s, when uptake of smart-phones began to rise sharply, then-existing 3G capacity started to look increasingly inadequate. At the same time, margins of voice services have continued to decline, prompting telecoms firms to seek to use data to supplement their revenue streams. As a result, Bahrain’s telecoms operators have been looking to invest in new networks, from long-term evolution…

Overview

Extending the reach: Leveraging an open regulatory environment for continued regional competitiveness in ICT
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Bahrain has a history of involvement with telecoms that dates back to 1864, when the island became a way station for the telegraph cable link between India and Europe. It was the first country in the Middle East to install a mainframe computer (at the Bahrain Petroleum Company, BAPCO, in 1962), to install a satellite station (1969) and to launch an internet service (1995). In more recent years, the country has embraced the digital revolution with zeal. Bahrain ranks among the most open economies…