Bahrain’s telecommunications sector continued its strong performance in the first quarter of 2024, with key indicators showing significant growth compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).
The mobile subscriber base expanded notably, increasing from 2,152,591 in Q1 2023 to 2,449,728 in Q1 2024, reflecting a 13.8% growth. This surge also drove mobile penetration up from 136% to 155%, indicating deeper market reach.
A closer look at mobile subscriptions reveals growth in both prepaid and postpaid segments. Prepaid subscriptions rose by 7.8% to 1,559,011, while postpaid subscriptions saw a significant 26.3% increase, reaching 890,717 by the end of Q1 2024, up from 705,172 in Q1 2023.
The broadband sector also experienced notable progress. Mobile broadband subscriptions increased from 2,304,132 in Q1 2023 to 2,375,854 in Q1 2024, marking a 3.1% growth, while mobile broadband penetration rose from 146.1% to 151%.
Fibre broadband subscriptions, essential for high-speed internet, grew from 167,434 in Q1 2023 to 169,709 in Q1 2024, supporting the growing demand for data-intensive services. Total data consumption surged by 10.2%, from 431 Petabytes in Q1 2023 to 475 Petabytes in Q1 2024, highlighting the increasing reliance on data services.
Despite the growth in mobile and broadband sectors, the traditional fixed telephony market saw a slight decline, with subscriptions dropping from 216,678 in Q1 2023 to 209,628 in Q1 2024, indicating a shift towards mobile and wireless communication.
An expert noted that the rising demand for data and the steady improvement in fibre broadband infrastructure signal a promising future for Bahrain’s telecommunications sector.