BY year end, the kingdom’s access to global information, communications and entertainment will be ahead of numerous international markets and Bahrain will continue to lead the region in broadband technology, among other new era communications tools, according to Batelco’s chief executive Peter Kaliaropoulos.
“A BD22 million investment in our Next Generation Network (NGN) means that Batelco customers will have broadband access comparable to mature markets in Europe, the Americas and Asia, in the near future.
“Our network is ready to support broadband connectivity and services and consumer demand will determine the roll out of a range of converged services in the future,” he said.
“In addition, Batelco’s new BD5 million mobile broadband 3.5G mobile network will soon be launched with ambitious targets of speeds and services equal to, but in many ways surpassing, other international markets.”
Batelco has committed an investment of $16 million for the final phase of their $57 million investment to complete the ambitious project to deliver automated broadband access to all residences in the kingdom.
As part of the implementation process a further four areas, Al Jazaer, Al Wadi, Awali and Sakhir are being migrated to the new services during this month.
NGN services facilitate triple play (voice, data and video) on a single line which traditionally only carried voice telephone services. The service will allow new customers to connect to Batelco Broadband Internet within one day, from a process that usually took two weeks prior to migration.
“Batelco’s NGN will deliver our promise to bring affordable broadband access to all of Bahrain’s households and enable an e-lifestyle for all residents sharing information, education and entertainment,” said corporate affairs general manager Ahmed Al Janahi.