Telecommunication Infrastructure and Regulation
Overview: Bahrain has a very sophisticated and developed Telecommunications infrastructure that meets the needs of the local people. The largest company in Bahrain ensuring the developing the up to date infrastructure consisting of Cable, T1, ISDN and DSL lines and newer technologies are emerging in the market such as ASDN. The companies there are also developing wireless application protocol.
Bahrain Telecommunications (1) Bahrain had its telecommunication services starting in the 1964 provided by Cable & Wireless which is originated at the United Kingdom. The infrastructure was handled earlier by Cable & Wireless until the government of Bahrain decided to buy 80% of the shares. By then was Batelco Company founded in 1981. Since that time, Batelco lead the revolution of telecom within the kingdom.
In Bahrain the phone line ratio is 250/1000 people and the infrastructure
consists of T1 lines, ISDN, DSL and submarine cables. The physical infrastructure
in the capital Manama is up to Western standards and the major company for
the development is Batelco. In Bahrain, all of the telecommunication sector
is control on a shareholding basis ( a number of local investors have invested
in the company and take care of the day to day running), but the entire industry
is regulated by the government.
Since there are not many key players in the telecommunication sector except
Batelco, most of the prices are setup by the company, but the government ensures
that the prices are not based on a monopolized fashion and fairness is established
in them.
Batelco Communication Company is for sure one of the leading companies in
the world that is recognized for its services offered to individuals and companies.
As the company web site states “Excellence in service delivery is a constant
endeavor at Batelco. Our aim is to meet the needs of customers on time, every
time, with professionalism and efficiency”. Our approach to service delivery
was rewarded in October 1996 when we became the first telecommunications company
in the Middle East to receive the ISO9002 Certificate of Quality from the
British Standards Institute. Since then, we have taken active steps to extend
the scope of this award to all our activities. We continue to build on our
achievements and we aim towards total excellence by constantly improving each
area of our operations.” And their sales values states "We will be a
world class customer-driven provider of integrated communications solutions
in our chosen markets." The results speak out for their self as Batelco
doesn’t take long into integrating IT services for the country. Officially
the company provided internet services at the early 80’s and for the public
in 1996. As in year 2000 the company made it possible to access the web through
wireless application protocol services (WAP), and many more advancements.
Batelco Services:
Data Services
LANConnect
Local Leased Service
Global Frame Relay Service (Global FR)
Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT Satellite Solutions)
Global Managed Private Line(Global MPL)
International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC)
One Stop Shopping (OSS)
Facilities Management Centre (FMC)
Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)
Broadband Connect Service
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
Global Asynchronous Transfer Mode Service (Global ATM)
Broadcast Service
Private Automatic Branch Exchanges (PABXs)
Messaging Switching System (MSS)
Maritime Communications (Bahrain Radio)
Telex
Telegraph
inet (Internet Services)
Dial-up Access
Dial Direct Access
ISDN Access
Leased line access
inet900 (budget Internet-access service)
Speednet - Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
inet Roaming
inet PrePaid
@ltijara.com (e-commerce service)
Integrated Messaging Service (IMS)
e-education (WISE) - Saudi Arabia
e-procurement (SAVI) - Saudi Arabia
inet Web Hosting Service
inet e-advertising (e-mail broadcast & banners)
Mobile telephony (MobilePlus)
In line with trends worldwide, Bahrain’s mobile-phone market is growing 10 times faster than fixed-line telephony. Our mobile network is continually upgraded and expanded, with new features being added on a regular basis. And the company is poised to take advantage of technologies that will enable exciting new services – subject to demand – such as high-speed, high-volume Internet-access using a mobile phone or other hand-held device. Today, Batelco’s comprehensive range of mobile products and services includes:
GSM PostPaid
International Roaming (available in 81 countries - March 2002)
Short Messaging Service (SMS)
PrePaid Mobile Service (SimSim)
Twin Sim Card GSM (allowing two phone numbers on one SIM card)
Dual Sim Card (Thunaii)
Paging
Trunked Mobile Radio
Mobile VoiceMail & Faxmail (network-based messaging service)
InfoME - Wireless Application Protocol – WAP (information services on a mobile
phone)
Mobile Fax and Data Service (a 'mobile office' package)
Fixed-line telephony
Telephony services at competitive rates are available to residential and business
customers. Our products and services add many useful features and options
to the traditional voice offering. Customers are able to benefit from:
International Direct Dialling (IDD)
National Telephony (local telephone service)
Operator Services
Prepaid Calling Cards
Enhance prepaid service (a prepaid calling card used as a voucher to credit
an account held on a fixed line)
HomeDirect (international access from Bahrain)
BahrainDirect (International access to Bahrain from overseas)
Freelink (toll-free access)
Public Payphones (coin, phone cards and credit cards)
VoiceMail (network-based voice-messaging service)
StarDial (network-based features adding greater functionality to fixed-line
telephony)
FaxPlus (package of features for fax users)
Caller Line Identification (CLI)
Audiotex (information services via telephone)