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Bahrain's mobile penetration reaches 176% [24X7 News Bahrain Online](24X7 News Bahrain Online Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) MANAMA: With 2.25 million mobile subscriptions in the Kingdom of Bahrain at the end of the 1st quarter of 2014 the mobile penetration rate reached at 176%, while in the same period 1.7 million broadband subscriptions were active, representing 134% for broadband penetration.Ministry of State for Communications Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa the Minister of State for Communications welcomes the commencement of the Global Symposium for Regulators 2014 (GSR14) for the first time in the Kingdom of Bahrain under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minister.Over 72 countries are participating in the GSR14 with more than 700 participants attending the 3 days event. The Ministry of State for Communications worked with Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to share the latest telecom market indicators to shed some light on the progress achieved in the Kingdom of Bahrain.About 20 telecommunications operators are competing with each other in the provision of services. Telecoms revenues have seen a 3.5% increase in 2013, coming up to nearly BD423 million when compared to BD409 million in 2012. The Telecommunications workforce is close to being 3,000 employees strong as of 2013, with a high degree of Bahrainisation.Based on the latest Retail Price Benchmarking Study of telecommunications services in Arab countries which was commissioned by the TRA on behalf of AREGNET (the Arab Regulators Group) and was undertaken by Teligen (an independent consulting firm specialized in tariff comparisons), telecoms prices in Bahrain have been decreasing in the last five years, remaining among the lowest in the Gulf region and Arab countries. Mobile tariffs in Bahrain compares well with GCC and Arab averages, as mobile prices in Bahrain have fallen by up to 25% between 2012 and 2013, and up to 40% in the last 5 years.Residential fixed broadband prices in Bahrain have also dropped by up to 38% between 2012 and 2013, and dropped close to 60% in the last 5 years. Business fixed broadband prices on the other hand have fallen by about 32% during the same period and 80% in the last five years. Mobile broadband prices in Bahrain typically compares favorably against the OECD average for all broadband speeds. Mobile broadband prices fallen by around 65% between 2012 and 2013."Based on the global information technology report 2014 published recently by the World Economic Forum, the telecommunication sector in Bahrain continues to depict a robust performance," Shaikh Fawaz Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa said."This comes as evidence and acknowledgment of the effort put forth by the Government and the regulatory strategy enforced by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority for the benefit of the Kingdom of Bahrain and all of its residents."The level of prices is among the lowest in the world, ranking 25th out of 148 economies, while service uptake is one of the highest, ranked 14th, with a very high number of Internet users, ranked 10th. (c) 2014 Twentyfoursevennews.com. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |