Page 81 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

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Mobile Prices Down 15 Percent, Data Usage Jumps 74 Percent in Bahrain

Telecom companies in Bahrain offer the lowest prices in the GCC Since the issuance of the Fourth National Telecommunications
and Arab markets, TRA’s latest report said, especially in the high Plan, the number of fixed wired broadband subscriptions has
usage baskets. Fixed broadband prices in Bahrain are 19 per cent dramatically increased to 123 thousand subscriptions by the end
lower than the average prices in the GCC countries, thanks to higher of 2019, an increase of 71pc since the issuance of the plan in the
competition and the regulatory framework. Telecommunications middle of 2016. Broadband penetration rate reached 157pc by the
Regulatory Authority’s 2019 Telecommunications Retail Price end of the third quarter of 2019, and Internet data usage increased
Benchmarking compares telecom prices in the Arab countries and by 185pc between 2015 and 2018. The competition, TRA said,
the OECD countries. has contributed to lower prices for fixed broadband services with
Mobile rates down 15pc high speeds. The latest indicators show that 92pc of all fixed
Between 2018 and 2019, mobile prices in Bahrain decreased by broadband subscribers get 10MB/s and more, compared to only
15 per cent, as mobile subscriptions with data services reached 36pc in 2015.
78pc by the end of 2019. TRA said changes in consumers’ Internet users at 99pc
usage behavior from traditional voice services to data services Internet users in Bahrain reached 99pc, thanks to competitive
have “contributed somehow to reducing the number of mobile prices. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2019 Global
subscriptions in the recent years and this is what has also Competitiveness Report, Bahrain is ranked fourth globally in
been observed in other GCC countries.” “Despite this decrease, Internet users.
the mobile penetration rate in Bahrain is still one of the highest High user satisfaction
in the world, and it is also higher than the average penetration The competitive prices, TRA said, also contributed to achieving
rate in developed countries,” the report said. Mobile data usage high levels of user satisfaction, as 85pc of broadband users
increased by 74pc between 2017 and 2018, the report said. and 82pc of mobile users are satisfied with their services.
Fixed broadband subscription rises “Promoting competition and encouraging investment in the
telecommunications sector is ongoing and keeps pace with all
economic developments and the latest global technologies in
order to bring more benefits to users,” says TRA’s Acting General
Director Sh. Nasser bin Mohamed Al Khalifa. He added: “In this
regard and after achieving Batelco separation and establishing
the National Broadband Network, TRA is implementing a number
of initiatives that will enable this network to provide advanced
services allowing operators to provide various services at
competitive prices.” On mobile services, TRA said it has provided
the required spectrum and granted sufficient frequency licenses
to provide 5G services, making Bahrain one of the first countries
in the region to establish 5G networks. “Through these initiatives,
TRA seeks to achieve the government strategic goal to keep
Bahrain at the forefront regionally and internationally and make it
a regional hub for trade and ICT,” Sh. Nasser said.

Bahrain Sees Surge in Online Business

Bahrain is witnessing a surge in online “The trends for the digital economy are the sidelines of the Bahrain eCommerce
entrepreneurs and e-commerce platforms, encouraging as we see a growth,” she told Conference held under the theme ‘Build
according to a top official. Leading the the GDN yesterday. “We do not have exact Your Online Business’. The event was
nation’s move towards a digital economy numbers, but rough estimates show there held at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain under the
are portals that offer users a wide range are more than 500 businesses registered patronage of Industry, Commerce and
of options from buying groceries, beauty (commercial registrations) under Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani. The
products, electronics to making purchases Internet activities.” The CR registration annual event of the Bahrain eCommerce
of niche products at the click of a button. online portal Sijilat has made it easy for Academy was attended by startup owners
Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry entrepreneurs to complete the process in a and young minds, to discuss the recent
Information Systems Director Maram matter of seconds, she explained. “It takes trends in digital economy. “E-commerce
Al Mahmeed said over the years there a couple of seconds for the e-commerce in the Middle East is set to be worth $48
has been an increase in the number of company to be set up, after paying the billion by 2022 with 16.4 per cent growth
e-commerce business registrations. fees.” She was speaking to the GDN on in the next few years,” said Thinksmart for

81 FEBRUARY 2020