Page 142 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2022

REGUL
REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATESATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

A SNAPSHOT OF REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

IN THE SAMENA REGION

Bahrain

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced restrict it – the TRA will always act. The TRA seeks to encourage a
that Internet users in Bahrain will soon be able to benefit from dynamic competitive market which works well for consumers. We
faster and more efficient Wi-Fi 6 technologies, allowing them to all rely on telecoms services every day - telecoms are essential.
enjoy the full capabilities of both fiber and 5G. This is in line with The TRA looks after the interests of consumers while ensuring we
the Kingdom’s adoption of radio spectrum ranges 5470 – 5725 have fair competition between operators.” (August 3, 2022) tra.org.bh
MHz and 5925 – 6425 MHz for Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E applications.
TRA said that Bahrain has one of the most extensive fiber optic The Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) revealed the re-
deployments in the world, with 5G deployments that spans the sults of its channels performance during the first half (H1) of 2022,
entire Kingdom. Wi-Fi 6 new features will enhance the consumer which included a significant spike in online payments. Financial
experience by increasing capacity and performance. It lets routers transactions jumped 55% to approximately 1.9 million, bringing
communicate with more devices at once and send data to multiple in BD334 million in revenue via the iGA’s various digital channels,
devices at the same time. This is of more significance as the including the National Portal, bahrain.bh, the eGovernment Apps
average number of connected devices in a Bahraini household Store, bahrain.bh/apps, and eKiosks. There was also a 12% in-
is expected to continue to increase. TRA General Director Philip crease in the number of government apps users compared to the
Marnick said: “Bahrain is one of the most connected places in the same period in 2021 .and 9,789,000 visits to the portal during the
world and internet users expect to be able to use the full potential first half of 2022 , an increase of 31%. iGA Deputy Chief Executive
of both our extensive fiber and 5G coverage. Opening this new Wi- of eTransformation, Dr. Zakariya AlKhajah said that the increase
Fi spectrum will not only enable everyone in Bahrain to access the in online transactions is in line with directives by the Kingdom of
services they want today; it will also allow them to make full use of Bahrain’s leadership to introduce digital transformation strategies
new technologies and capabilities as they become available.” “We and initiatives across all areas of the government. He added that
want to ensure Bahrain is the best place in the world to access the the iGA is committed to implementing the decisions of the Minis-
internet and for companies to test their innovations,” he added. The terial Committee for Information and Communications Technolo-
authority noted that the new radio spectrum in place, commercial gy, chaired by the Minister of Interior, General Shaikh Rashid bin
and government organizations will be able to offer enhanced Abdulla Al Khalifa, which aims to accelerate the development of
services, enabling the Kingdom to continue enhancing its global services in cooperation with other government entities by setting Draft
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) deployment policies, deploying advanced technologies, and enhancing overall
ranking. (August 17, 2022) www.bna.bh performance. Services are offered via digital channels, contribut-
ing to a better quality of life for citizens and residents, who have
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has shown increasing acceptance of government apps downloadable
announced on its website its decision in response to complaints from the eGovernment Apps Store. He attributed this rise in de-
submitted against Batelco regarding its fiber broadband speed mand to Bahrain’s advanced digital culture, adding that the iGA is
offer which was introduced in July 2020 and lasted for a period looking to introduce additional features and services to enhance
of 9 months. According to the Authority’s Decision, consumers the user experience even further. AlKhajah said that the directives
who had subscribed to Batelco’s fiber broadband packages of the Minister of Interior have served to motivate these enhance-
during this period may exit their contract(s) and switch to another ments. The iGA is dedicated to swifter digital transformation
fiber broadband service provider without paying any termination through the diversification of online government services and en-
charges. This not only applies to subscribers during the period, but suring they meet the requirements of all stakeholders. It ensures
also to users who have been offered the fiber broadband packages that they are offered as an alternative to traditional services, help-
without renewing their contracts. Consumers will be notified of ing to save the public time and effort by eliminating the need for
this by Batelco during the first week of August. Switching between physical visits to service centers. This requires a sophisticated
operators in Bahrain is simple, as the Kingdom’s fiber infrastructure restructuring of the services by the iGA in collaboration with other
is provided by a single provider BNET. Therefore, customers government entities. He said that the iGA is currently working on
wishing to end their contract with Batelco may use another launching a large number of additional eServices this year. The to-
competitive service provider for a comparable service, or may tal number of eServices currently provided by the iGA’s currently
renew their existing contract with Batelco should they wish to do stands at 569, including 440 via the Portal, 19 via eKiosks, and 110
so. Mr. Philip Marnick, General Director of TRA Bahrain stated “To via mobile apps. The H1 2022 report revealed a major trend among
further promote competition and stop any behaviors which may citizens and residents to carry out transactions via government

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