News

Bahrain has solidified its position as one of the most competitive telecommunications markets in the Arab region, according to the latest Arab Price Benchmarking Report. The report, released by the Bahrain Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), highlights the country’s telecom services as being among the most competitively priced in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the wider Arab world.

Notable reductions in residential fixed broadband prices (18.6%) and mobile broadband prices (16%) between 2021 and 2022 have been attributed to the TRA’s efforts in promoting competition within the broadband market. Furthermore, Bahrain ranks among the top 20 countries worldwide in terms of fiber penetration, as stated in the 2023 Fiber to The Home (FTTH) Broadband Global Ranking published by the FTTH Council Europe.

Mobile prices in Bahrain are also the most affordable in the GCC, with a decrease of up to 58.5% between 2021 and 2022. This significant drop can be attributed to the introduction of new mobile packages offering lower prices and enhanced benefits.

Additionally, Bahrain’s leased line prices are among the cheapest in the GCC and on par with the average of The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This affordability has contributed to a 7.6% growth in fiber broadband subscriptions and a 7% increase in fixed broadband data usage between 2021 and 2022.

Bahrain’s commitment to providing high-speed internet services is evident, with 86% of all residential premises now able to purchase fiber broadband. As of June 2023, 68% of households have active fiber connections, and 42% of households have wireless home broadband (5G), ensuring that all households in Bahrain have access to ultra-fast broadband services.

The latest residential survey highlights that 100% of people in Bahrain utilize internet services, and 100% of households have access to ultra-fast internet services. This remarkable level of connectivity showcases the collective efforts made by industry players and the TRA to enhance Bahrain’s ranking in terms of fiber rollout and fiber service adoption.

Philip Marnick, the TRA’s General Director, expressed satisfaction with the recognition of Bahrain’s leading position and competitive prices. He emphasized the importance of a competitive market in ensuring that consumers and businesses can access desired services at reasonable prices. Marnick also acknowledged the need for further action to make Bahrain one of the world’s best-connected destinations, where consumers can purchase services at competitive prices.

(Note: The article has been rewritten and formatted without author information, contact information, sources of information, and quotes. HTML tags and images have been removed. The title has been added as an

tag at the beginning.)

The post Bahrain: A Competitive and Affordable Telecommunications Market appeared first on ISP Today.