5G by June

Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal Ahmed has announced that preparations for the rollout of 5G networks in the Kingdom are complete and anticipates that Bahrain will be one of the first countries globally to provide commercial 5G services to consumers by June 2019, pending availability of consumer handsets. 

He said that having completed all the necessary regulatory work, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is scheduled to allocate licensing and spectrum by the first week of April. Mobile operators in the Kingdom have already begun rolling out the necessary network infrastructure.

“This project comes as part of the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister, of further promoting  competitiveness within the Kingdom – in line with Bahrain Vision 2030.” 

“The project reflects the Kingdom’s drive for innovation, the use of the latest technologies, and the continuous support of all stakeholders including the TRA and the national Spectrum Strategy and Coordination Committee (SSCC), all of which serve to highlight the Kingdom’s continued role as a regional leader in telecommunications and ICT sector.

“The launch of 5G also reaffirms the Kingdom’s leading role in 5G networks and the implementation of cutting-edge technology and promoting innovation,” said the minister. This announcement positions Bahrain as one of the world’s leading 5G-ready countries, increasing its appeal as a destination for companies trialing next-generation technologies such as autonomous vehicles and virtual/augmented reality goods, as the Kingdom continues to encourage investment in world-class telecommunications infrastructure and services.