2011 Bahrain Country Commercial Guide - US - Export.gov

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Telecommunications Overview Return to top The telecommunications sector was the first key sector to be liberalized in Bahrain following the Government's announced interest in opening traditionally governmentcontrolled industries. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), established in late 2002, awarded a mobile telecommunications services license to MTC-Vodafone (Now known as Zain Telecommunication Company), thus ending the monopoly of Bahrain's telecom services provider, Batelco. The license was awarded under the Telecommunications Law, which took effect January 2003. An open framework attracted a second wireless carrier -- Zain Telecommunication -- to relocate their headquarters from Kuwait to the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2007. TRA awarded a third mobile provider license to STC in 2008. The third operator Viva (Saudi Telecommunication Company) launched their commercial operation in March of 2010. In all, 62 telecommunication companies are currently operating in different sectors throughout Bahrain The TRA most recently announced the provision of five International Telecommunications Facility licenses (IFLs), eight International Telecommunications Services Licenses (ISLs), seven VSAT licenses, 21 value-added Services (VAS) "Class" licenses and eight Internet Service Provider (ISP) licenses. The Telecommunication sector has grown rapidly, largely due to new technologies including use of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), and mobile phones. The market is very competitive, with mobile providers organizing year-round marketing campaigns. According to the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), in 2011 the number of mobile phone users reached 1,120,000, up from 1,010,000 the previous year, representing a growth of 10 percent, the high growth is due the introduction of Smart Phones offers by mobile providers. At 120 percent, Bahrain has one of the highest mobile phone penetration rates in the Middle East and the world. Telecommunications liberalization also extended to paging services, very small aperture terminal (VSAT), public access mobile radio services, international telecommunications facilities, international telecommunications services, national fixed services, internet service provider (ISP) and value-added services license following the full liberalization of the sector on July 1, 2004. Likewise, Internet penetration has significantly increased. In 2011, Batelco had 408,000 registered Internet subscribers; personal users accounted for 82 percent and business users 18 percent of the total Internet market. Other Internet Service Providers (ISP) include Viva, Zain and Menatelecom. Best Prospects Return to top Fixed telephone and cellular (GSM) equipment, network solutions and software, fiber optic cabling, and wireless networking. 34
Opportunities Return to top Telephone and internet service are widely available. Based on the over-saturated market, there are opportunities in support services and software. Web Resources Return to top Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) http://www.tra.org.bh/ Ministry of Transportation (MOT) (covers public transportation, telecommunications, postal services, and civil aviation) www.transportation.gov.bh Bahrain Internet Exchange (BIX) www.bix.bh Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) www.cbb.gov.bh Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) http://www.bahrainedb.com/ Bahrain Telecommunications (Batelco) www.batelco.com Menatelecom http://www.menatelecom.com/ U.S. Embassy Bahrain Commercial Section http://bahrain.usembassy.gov/tradeandcommerce.html Viva http://www.viva.com.bh/static/CorporatePortal/English/Home/index.htm Zain http://www.bh.zain.com/portal/page/portal/home 35
Page 1 and 2: Doing Business in Bahrain: 2012 Cou
Page 3 and 4: double oil production by 2013. In 2
Page 5 and 6: An on-the-ground presence in Bahrai
Page 7 and 8: Return to table of contents Chapter
Page 9 and 10: Economic Development Board (EDB) Te
Page 11 and 12: Establishing Manufacturing Faciliti
Page 13 and 14: Office rents (2011 figures) High-en
Page 15 and 16: 1. Upon the submission of the appli
Page 17 and 18: e a matter of Bahrain‘s national
Page 19 and 20: There are two daily English languag
Page 21 and 22: Food & Hospitality Expo / Health &
Page 23 and 24: CDs, software, clothing, and househ
Page 25 and 26: qualified partners.Receive complete
Page 29 and 30: Medical Equipment/Healthcare Overvi
Page 31 and 32: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Page 33: http://www.moic.gov.bh/moic/en Mini
Page 37 and 38: Bahrain's underdeveloped insurance
Page 39 and 40: Education and Training Overview Ret
Page 41 and 42: Electrical Power Overview Return to
Page 43 and 44: Water Desalination Overview Return
Page 45 and 46: Construction Overview Return to top
Page 47 and 48: Agricultural Sectors Return to top
Page 51 and 52: Following the completion of the Cus
Page 53 and 54: Food and Drug Administration, Offic
Page 55 and 56: Customs Regulations and Contact Inf
Page 57 and 58: comment on proposed foreign technic
Page 59 and 60: As of October 2011, Bahrain had bil
Page 61 and 62: In an economy largely dominated by
Page 63 and 64: Bahrain requires that pharmaceutica
Page 65 and 66: The GCC Commercial Arbitration Cent
Page 67 and 68: eliable system of recording such se
Page 69 and 70: financial crisis, coupled with the
Page 71 and 72: Bahrain and the U.S. signed a bilat
Page 73 and 74: In January 2011, the Ministry of Co
Page 75 and 76: Return to table of contents 75
Page 77 and 78: The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) r
Page 79 and 80: Bahrain Development Bank http://www
Page 81 and 82: For the latest travel advisories, p
Page 83 and 84: Other Health Information: Informati
Page 85 and 86:
Return to table of contents Chapter
Page 87 and 88:
U.S. Agriculture Trade Office - Dub
Page 89:
Return to table of contents Chapter
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