Bahrain has made significant progress in download speeds among Gulf nations, closely followed by Qatar, according to a report by OpenSignal, a leading analytics firm for mobile network experiences.
The report, titled “GCC Markets Rank Among the Best in EMEA for Mobile Network Experience,” highlights notable increases in 5G download speeds across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Users in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia experienced significant gains in overall average download speeds last year, ranging from 13.6% to 77.6%, while the UAE saw a slight decline. Notably, Bahrain and Qatar recorded over 20% increases in 5G download speeds.
The report affirms that all GCC countries offer an excellent mobile network experience, particularly in 5G, with Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar leading in performance. The GCC stands out for its exceptional 5G speeds among the analyzed EMEA markets.
Comparing download speeds in GCC countries with 34 major markets in EMEA, GCC users enjoy the fastest speeds. Bahrain leads with 52.4 Mbps, followed by Qatar at 48.8 Mbps, and Kuwait at 47.6 Mbps. The GCC region boasts some of the most impressive global speeds, especially for 5G networks, with average 5G download speeds reaching 200 Mbps across all six Gulf markets.
The UAE and Qatar top the list for overall network availability, with users connecting to 3G, 4G, or 5G signals 98.9% of the time. In Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait, 5G users spend more than a fifth of their time on an active 5G connection, with Kuwait leading at 37.6%.
In terms of 5G upload speeds, Qatar leads the region, followed by the UAE at 27.6 Mbps, Kuwait at 24.6 Mbps, Saudi Arabia at 23.7 Mbps, Bahrain at 15.3 Mbps, and Oman at 13.5 Mbps.
Research by Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) reveals that average 4G download speeds have more than doubled since 2020, rising from 85 Mbps to 266 Mbps in 2022. High-quality mobile communication services have become essential given daily reliance on these services.
The TRA analysis indicates that the three mobile networks operating in Bahrain offer good service levels and are continually improving. This analysis provides a thorough review of network performance and service aspects, ensuring that results reflect actual network performance and services.
The Global Mobile Network Experience Awards in the GCC, presented by OpenSignal, provide regular reports on the state of mobile network experience in GCC markets and award operators based on user-recorded experiences. These reports, issued twice a year, show consistency in operator performance, though the proportion of awards won by each operator changes over time.
OpenSignal’s detailed analytics help operators and regulators understand the reasons behind these results and identify areas for improvement to enhance the mobile experience for users.