Telecoms

A decade has passed since Bahrain’s telecoms sector was revolutionised by the liberalisation of the industry and the formation of an independent regulator. Fixed and mobile telephony and broadband services reach nearly every household, and many mobile users maintain multiple SIM cards, giving a mobile penetration rate well over 100%. Within such a highly competitive sector, telecoms companies are constantly pressed to find innovative ways to keep their share of the market. A continuously evolving regulatory regime is ensuring that few barriers exist to customers who wish to change telecoms service providers. While investors in the sector face a saturated market with a high degree of competition, the relatively underdeveloped mobile broadband segment holds great potential for growth. This chapter includes an interview with Mohammed Ahmed Al Amer, Chairman, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.