Telecoms & IT

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.