Abstract
Bahrain is among the most liberalized telecoms markets in the Middle East. The
regulator, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), is encouraging
further competition through new licenses as well as wholesale and retail
regulations.
With the entry of the third mobile operator in March 2010, competition is
expected to intensify, putting pressure on tariffs; this is likely to make
mobile services more affordable for end users. In addition, the implementation
of mobile number portability (MNP) is expected to drive tariffs lowers as
players compete to gain customers from competitors in this highly penetrated
market (118% mobile penetration as of June 2009).
The fixed-line services market is also expected to gain from the
implementation of the second phase of number portability (by September 2010).
Furthermore, alternative telecoms service providers are likely to benefit from
the new local loop unbundling regulation, which enables them to offer services
at competitive prices over incumbent Batelco’s infrastructure.
Table of Contents
Overview
Ovum view
Fixed market overview
Internet market
VoIP
Multiplay: dual, triple, and quad players
Mobile market
overview
National regulatory authority
Competition authority
Key
legislation and regulation
Acts
Orders
Current status of market
analysis
Mobile licensing
3G licenses
WiMAX
MVNOs
Retail regulation
The retail market
Retail tariff regulation
Number portability
Quality of service
Wholesale fixed regulation
Narrowband voice interconnection
Services subject to regulation
Cost
model for the reference interconnection offer (RIO)
Narrowband flat-rate
interconnection
Flat-rate Internet access call origination
Wholesale
access
Wholesale broadband access
Local loop unbundling
Wholesale line rental
Transition to all-IP networks
Wholesale
broadband services
Interconnection at international cable landing points
Leasing of dark fiber
Wholesale mobile regulation
Mobile
operator obligations
National roaming
Mobile termination charges
Mobile number portability
Competition cases
TRA fines Batelco for
failing to meet its obligations to other licensed operators
Universal
service
Universal service obligation
Appendix
Relevant markets
as defined by the TRA
List of Tables
Table 1:
Market share in the Bahraini mobile market and cost of UMTS licenses
Table 2: Fixed sector: services subject to regulation
Table 3: Mobile
sector: services subject to regulation in Bahrain
Table 4: Relevant
markets in Bahrain
List of Figures
Figure 1: Fixed-line subscribers in Bahrain
Figure 2: Dial-up and
broadband subscribers in Bahrain
Figure 3: Mobile subscribers in Bahrain
Bahrain (country regulation overview) published by Ovum, Ltd. in April 23, 2010. This report consists of Pages: 20 and the price starts from US $ 1495.
