www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The chairman of Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Mohammed Ahmed Al-Amer, reportedly anticipates that nation’s third mobile licence holder Saudi Telecom Company (STC) will launch its services by 2009-end or early 2010, with the effect of reducing end-user tariffs and improving levels of service in the market.
STC will make an investment of USD100 million on infrastructure development, said Al-Amer, adding that ‘Bahrain has emerged as one of the most open and competitive markets in the telecoms sector in the region, thanks to the… liberalised and level playing field for all telecom players.’
On 08.27.09, In Mobile, By Editor
On 08.24.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In accordance with its efforts to conform to directives of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Zain Bahrain will be re-engineering its GSM network to release a part of the mobile radio spectrum.
This comes as part of the steps taken by the TRA in preparation for the third mobile operator. Network Director Esam Zainal said every effort was being made to minimize any disruption during the transition and continue to provide Zain Bahrain customers with the highest quality of service.
‘Work on the transition to a reduced bandwidth will be carried out during the early morning hours of Monday 24th August and the following 3 nights to minimize any disruption,’Mr. Zainal said.
On 08.20.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) held today a press conference to announce its achievements and presented its 2008 Annual Report. The press conference was attended by members of the media, TRA’s Board of Directors and TRA’s management team.
In his opening speech TRA’s Chairman Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Al Amer said “TRA can be proud of what it has achieved for consumers, businesses and the economy of the Kingdom of Bahrain for the telecommunications sector.” He went on to presented an overview of TRA’s achievements since liberalisations. Dr Mohammed said “2008 has been
an empowering year to consumers. A year that has witnessed more choice of telecommunications services especially fixed wireless broadband using WiMax technology, better value for money and improved customer services. But we still have a long way to go to achieve sustainable competition in all markets especially the international connectivity that will have an impact on the prices and quality of broadband and international calling achieving the objectives of the Kingdom’s 2030 economic vision.”
2008 witnessed 6% growth in revenues of the Telecommunications Sector, 29% increase in mobile subscribers, Broadband subscribers increased by 50%, while fixed line customers increased by 8% and employment in the sector increased by 4%. (more…)
On 08.18.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Nawras is celebrating the third anniversary of the successful introduction of mobile number portability (MNP) in the Sultanate.
This service has enabled thousands of new customers to move to Nawras from the other operator while keeping their existing number.
To date the fastest growing family in Oman has welcomed almost nine out of ten porting customers who have chosen to change operator and join the Nawras family so they can enjoy great value, pleasingly different service and excellent quality.
Nawras makes it easy for customers to move as many tens of thousands have already discovered. MNP expanded customer choice and put the Sultanate ahead of almost all other countries in the region.
The service is an important element in a free mobile telecommunications market focused on fair competition.
(more…)
On 07.14.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has directed mobile operators in the country to make mobile number portability (MNP) available by the end of 2009. The regulator reportedly announced that the standard charge for the service would be BHD10 (USD26), whilst the number porting process should take two days.
TRA General Director Alan Horne reportedly said, ‘We see this as one of the more important measures..to increase competitiveness and choice for the consumer.’
On 04.30.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Etisalat, country’s largest mobile operator, will be fined Dh400,000 for failure to comply with fair-competition rules demanded by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).
The country’s two operators were asked to introduce carrier pre-selection service, which enables landline telecom users to choose between the operators.
According to the regulator, the deadline was given to both the operators in June’08, the deadline which Etisalat failed to fulfill.
It was last month that TRA fined Etisalat Dh200, 000 and issued a new deadline of April 16, which also remained unfulfilled. The fine has since been doubled to Dh400, 000 and a new deadline of May 16 has been set. The regulator said the fine would continue to be doubled for each month of non-compliance.
Etisalat said it had upgraded 70% of its network to enable carrier pre-select, while the remaining 30% allows the service to be used with special dialing codes or devices.
“They decided unilaterally that they will not go with the full system. It was unacceptable to us. We believe it will lock competition in the fixed-line service because the second operator cannot launch a service in islands of geographical locations,” Mohammad Al Ganem, director-general of TRA said.
On 04.22.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has unveiled the draft for Arab countries on the regulation of international roaming. The document was prepared by the Arab regulators (Aregnet), who intend to establish a framework to protect subscribers from high mobile roaming tariffs when traveling among Arab countries.
The memorandum of understanding, prepared by a working group led by TRA Bahrain, aims to create the framework to ensure that these recommendations are implemented. While encouraging seeing such initiatives as Zain’s ‘One Network’ for reduced roaming prices, these type of offerings are still limited, the TRA said.
On 04.21.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) today published for consultation, a draft Memorandum of Understanding for Arab Countries, on the Regulation of International Mobile Roaming. The document, which was prepared by the Arab Regulators Network (AREGNET), aims to establish a framework to protect users from high mobile roaming tariffs when travelling among Arab countries.
TRA’s General Director Mr. Alan Horne commented: “It is encouraging to see such initiatives as “One Network” that
indicates that the mobile industry has started to address the importance of offering better terms for mobile roaming services to their customers. However they are still limited in terms of the number of countries covered. The Initiative of the Arab Regulators, supported by the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council, to protect users of the mobile roaming service from excessive tariffs is an important measure for consumer protection. European users are already enjoying lower rates when they travel within their region. Arab customers deserve the same.”
He also added: “we consider it important to obtain the input of stakeholders in Bahrain on the process, in order to ensure that their interests are appropriately represented in our discussions with regulators of other Arab countries.”
The draft Memorandum of Understanding is a stepping stone in the process, which started in 2005, when Arab Ministers of Telecommunications and Information asked AREGNET to propose methods to tackle the issue of high roaming tariffs. In 2007 the AREGNET adopted a recommendation in this regard, which was subsequently supported by the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Memorandum of Understanding, prepared by a Working Group led by TRA Bahrain, aims to create the framework to ensure that these recommendations are implemented.
The relevant documents can be found on TRA’s website www.tra.org.bh. All interested parties are invited to submit their views to TRA by 4pm on 10 May 2009.
About TRA
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) was established by Legislative Decree No. 48 of 2002 promulgating the Telecommunications Law. TRA is an independent body and its duties and powers include, among other things, protecting the interests of subscribers and users and promoting effective and fair competition among existing and new licensed operators. More information regarding TRA can be viewed at www.tra.org.bh
On 03.12.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com – According to a new report by TRA, UAE has become world leader in terms of phone lines per person. The mobile phone line uptake in the country has gone to nearly two mobile phones per person. The TRA’s report further reveals that the number of mobile phone lines in December reached 191 lines per 100 users.