IT
From The Report: Bahrain 2012
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The Kingdom’s tradition of innovation continues to makes it one of the most vibrant IT centres in the region. Sustained investment from the public and private sectors has seen businesses and government services move online, bringing cost-saving gains in efficiency. Throughout 2011, which saw many Bahraini businesses challenged by decreased investor confidence and consumer spending, the IT sector has proved to be one of the most resilient, with the market growing some 8.1% year-on-year. One of the main factors driving growth is public investment in the eGovernment programme, which aims to simplify access by moving public services online. The initiative is an important facet of the Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030, the country’s long-term development plan. In a push towards greater diversification of its economy, the Kingdom is also investing heavily in its human capital by introducing funding and a number of IT training programmes. This chapter includes an interview with Abdul Razak Jawahery, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Menatelecom.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

A new frontier: History of innovation holds the answer to future growth
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As the first country in the region to exploit its oil resources, Bahrain has long had a reputation as an early mover in the Gulf. Its information technology (IT) sector is no exception, with the first mainframe computer in the region installed by Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) in 1962. Following this pioneering trend, Bahrain was the first GCC country to make internet services available nationwide, in April 1995. Today, the tradition of innovation continues to make Bahrain one of the most…

Interview

OBG talks to Abdul Razak Jawahery, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Menatelecom
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Interview: Abdul Razak Jawahery How has the landscape for internet service providers (ISPs) changed with the entrance of VIVA? What does increased competition mean for the market? ABDUL RAZAK JAWAHERY: VIVA’s entry into the market has definitely increased competition and thereby provided for a healthier telecoms environment. With the presence of multiple operators, every ISP is delivering its best in terms of products and services. This provides added benefits for operators, consumers and…

Analysis

The right signals: Unrolling cheaper and faster broadband services
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Broadband internet is one of the fastest-developing markets in Bahrain, as an economically powerful consumer base calls for speedier and better-quality internet services. According to reports issued by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), there were around 290,000 internet subscribers in Bahrain in 2011, all of them broadband users, accounting for 23% of the population. This represents a 43% rise on 2010 and the highest rate of internet penetration in the GCC. With home and mobile…