One of the most significant telecommunications growth drivers in Bahrain in recent years has been the launch of fourth-generation long-term evolution (4G LTE) services. The kingdom’s three main operators – Batelco, Zain Bahrain and VIVA Bahrain – had been working to roll out 4G LTE services for nearly five years, although limited access to new...
Articles & Analysis | New technology and spectrum allocation stoke telecoms growth in Bahrain from The Report: Bahrain 2015
Articles & Analysis | OBG talks to Alan Whelan, Group CEO, Batelco; Ulaiyan Al Wetaid, CEO, VIVA Bahrain; and Mohammed Zainalabedin, General Manager, Zain Bahrain: Interview from The Report: Bahrain 2015
What are the factors impacting pricing strategies for 4G long-term evolution (LTE) services in Bahrain? What are the advantages and disadvantages of volume-based 4G LTE pricing versus unlimited, flat-rate 4G LTE pricing?
Articles & Analysis | Public and private sectors partner to support SME growth in Bahrain's ICT sector from The Report: Bahrain 2015
As the country’s population continues to grow, the government is increasingly focused on fostering entrepreneurship as a strategy to reduce unemployment. The nation’s open, diversified and advanced ICT sector has created a supportive environment for new start-ups, despite ongoing challenges presented by regional political instability,...
Articles & Analysis | The Bahraini government moves services online from The Report: Bahrain 2015
Development of a digital economy is a critical part of Bahrain’s Vision 2030 economic development plan, and the kingdom has been at the forefront of regional IT advances. The past 12 months have seen the government take major steps forward on its ambitious goal of creating a National Broadband Network (NBN), as highlighted in its third National...
Chapter | Telecoms & IT from The Report: Bahrain 2015
Privatisation and liberalisation initiatives have led to increased competition in the Bahraini telecoms sector in recent years, making it one of the most dynamic in the kingdom’s economy, with telecommunications accounting for roughly 4% of GDP in 2012. Mobile penetration stood at 166% in 2013, well above the regional average of 110% and the global average of 96% while the roll out of 4G long-...
As the region faces up to the challenge of the recent drop in oil prices, Bahrain’s fundamentals indicate the kingdom is well positioned to weather the dip. The focus on diversification goals outlined in Economic Vision 2030 is helping establish a more competitive and sustainable economy in the kingdom. The financial sector, which represents Bahrain’s second-largest GDP contributor, has continued to recover robustly since the global economic downturn.