Telecom development top priority : Minister

Manama

Top priority should be given for the continuous development of Bahrain’s Telecommunications, Information, and Communications Technologies (ICT) Infrastructure network, said Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Kamal Ahmed yesterday while calling on all parties concerned to ensure that Kingdom not only meets but exceeds in this sector. 

The minister was holding a discussion on developing Bahrain’s telecommunications infrastructure with Batelco executive team, headed by Batelco Chairman Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and attended by Director-General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Mohamed Hamad Bubashait, Batelco’s acting Chief Executive and representatives from the ministry and TRA. 

Highlighting that Bahrain has consistently proven to be a regional leader in the telecommunications/ICT sector, the minister stressed that the Kingdom still have potential to reach even higher standards. This, according to the minister, would help develop Kingdom’s digital society and should be done with the support and involvement of all relevant stakeholders, as it will be an enabler for innovation and growth across all sectors of the economy. “Care should be taken to ensure that Kingdom not only meets, but also exceeds, all possible international standards and best practices in the telecommunications/ICT sector,” the minister said while pointing out that this is also the primary obstacle faced by countries on a global scale. 

“Regardless of the type - fixed or mobile - all telecommunications services will be reliant on the underlying Telecommunication Networks Infrastructure,” the minister added. 

Moving on, the meeting mulled ways to construct an ultra-fast broadband network to address constant and increasing consumer demand for high-quality service experience and continuous ICT development. 

Possible strategies and options discussed include the evolution of the Kingdom’s existing Telecommunication Networks Infrastructure, including the National Broadband Network proposed in the Kingdom’s Third National Telecom Plan.

Participants also stressed the need for the telecom infrastructure to be developed to the level of the highest global standards, while maintaining the Kingdom’s commitment to a transparent and competitive telecommunications/ICT market.