Page 137 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Telecommunications Plan, changing the dynamics of competition and possibilities were undeniable. Through careful consideration,
in Bahrain from one based on infrastructure, to one based on the we determined that the best way for Bahrain to ensure that the
provision of innovative services as superfast broadband speeds NBN project was indeed successful, and while capitalizing on its
become the gold standard across the local industry. As the first unique geographic characteristics which could avoid the need for
country in the MENA region to have successfully separated the unnecessary duplication of networks, the Authority proceeded
incumbent into two entities and created an entirely new entity with the development of a new regulatory framework that had at
with the responsibility of providing all licensees’ access to a its core the invigoration of competition, the launch of innovative
single National Broadband Network, regulators from the GCC have products and services and the ubiquitous fiber coverage of
expressed keen interest in benefiting from Bahrain’s experience. Bahrain”. The TRA firmly believes that consumers and businesses
Thus the TRA has organized this workshop for attendees will reap the rewards of this new framework, expecting operators
including delegates from TRA UAE, CITC in Saudi, TRA Oman and to compete based on enhanced services, and for the impact of
CITRA in Kuwait. In a statement, Shaikh Nasser Bin Mohamed the new national broadband network to be felt for generations to
Al Khalifa, Acting General Director of TRA Bahrain said that, “the come, across all sectors, serving as a major component in the
necessity for the national broadband network project to become Government’s larger strategy of becoming a hub for ICT and a
a reality was very clear, as the link between ultra-fast internet focal-point of innovation. (February 19, 2020) tra.org.bh
and economic opportunities and possibilities were undeniable.
Through careful consideration, we determined that the best way The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the
for Bahrain to ensure that the NBN project was indeed successful, Kingdom of Bahrain announces that it has been awarded with
and while capitalizing on its unique geographic characteristics the ISO 9001:2015 Certification by Bureau Veritas, a recognized
which could avoid the need for unnecessary duplication of world leader in testing, inspection and certification services. ISO
networks, the Authority proceeded with the development of a 9001:2015 specifies requirements for a quality management
new regulatory framework that had at its core the invigoration of system when an organization demonstrates its ability to
competition, the launch of innovative products and services and consistently provide products and services that meet customer
the ubiquitous fiber coverage of Bahrain”. The TRA firmly believes and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and aims to
that consumers and businesses will reap the rewards of this new enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application
framework, expecting operators to compete based on enhanced of the system, including processes for improvement of the system
services, and for the impact of the new national broadband and assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory
network to be felt for generations to come, across all sectors, and regulatory requirements. Implementing ISO 9001:2015
serving as a major component in the Government’s larger strategy requirements guarantees a globally recognized standards
of becoming a hub for ICT and a focal-point of innovation. The of internal management practices, increased efficiency and
National Broadband Network project was a key objective in the productivity in operations, consistent outcomes that are measure
government’s vision through the 4th National Telecom Plan. In and monitored, and improved reporting and communications, to
simple terms, this project is the result of Batelco having been split name a few benefits. Commenting on the certification, Director of
into two separate entities which are independent of each other. Human Resources, Finance and Information Technology, Shaikh
The newly formed “BNET” is a wholesale organization managing Mohamed Bin Salman Al Khalifa stated that “TRA is happy that
Bahrain’s Fixed Infrastructure. Batelco is one of the existing it has met the requirements for ISO 9001:2015, and this reflects
operators in the Kingdom that would lease this infrastructure, TRA’s continual commitment towards adopting international best
along with STC Bahrain and Zain Bahrain among other ISPs to practices in quality management and excellence.”
offer retails services to end users. This led to the establishment of (February 11, 2020) tra.org.bh
a new economic regulatory framework in line with Government’s
policy directions under the 4th National Telecommunications The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the
Plan, changing the dynamics of competition in Bahrain from Kingdom of Bahrain held a three day workshop starting from
one based on infrastructure, to one based on the provision of the 20th of January 2020. The workshop centered on drafting
innovative services as superfast broadband speeds become the commercial contracts for members of the telecom industry.
gold standard across the local industry. As the first country in Attendees included legal teams from Mobile network operators
the MENA region to have successfully separated the incumbent Batelco, Zain & STC Bahrain. Some of the subjects that were
into two entities and created an entirely new entity with the covered during the three-day workshop included commercial
responsibility of providing all licensees’ access to a single National contract interpretation, drafting techniques and contract terms to
Broadband Network, regulators from the GCC have expressed keen name a few. Dr. Jean Pierre Scerri, Acting Legal Affairs Director of
interest in benefiting from Bahrain’s experience. Thus the TRA has the TRA commented on the workshop stating “It’s important to
organized this workshop for attendees including delegates from bring legal professionals together from within the industry to keep
TRA UAE, CITC in Saudi, TRA Oman and CITRA in Kuwait. In a pace with international best practices and share knowledge and
statement, Shaikh Nasser Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, Acting General experience. Workshops such as these allow a platform for dialogue
Director of TRA Bahrain said that, “the necessity for the national and understanding perspectives from multiple stakeholders.”
broadband network project to become a reality was very clear, as (January 29, 2020) tra.org.bh
the link between ultra-fast internet and economic opportunities

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