Fixed broadband prices fall 82 per cent

MANAMA: Fixed broadband prices have fallen by 82 per cent between 2013 and 2018, shows the 2018 Arab Price Benchmarking Study by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

The study stated that fixed broadband prices have also fallen by up to 7pc between 2017 and 2018.

Mobile services prices have fallen by up to 27pc between 2017 and 2018 and up to 54pc between 2013 and 2018.

The decline in prices has resulted in providing telecommunications services to a large segment of citizens and residents in the kingdom.

This has increased the penetration rates of telecommunications services in Bahrain which have become among the highest rates globally.

Bahrain is ranked 10th globally in mobile penetration rate (158.4pc), fifth globally in mobile broadband penetration rate (147.3pc) and third globally for the percentage of Internet users (98pc), according to the Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum in October.

The decline in prices, has resulted in subscribers migrating to higher Internet speeds.

According to the reports, in 2017, 84pc of fixed broadband subscribers were provided with Internet speeds equal to or more than 10 Mbps compared with only 10pc in 2013.

Moreover, the use of Internet data has also doubled seven times between 2013 and 2018.

According to the latest Telecommunications Market Survey in Bahrain, 83pc of respondents are satisfied with their overall mobile services in 2017 and 85pc are satisfied with their overall broadband services in 2017.

With regard to the telecommunications revenues, the decline in telecommunications services prices has significantly increased the number of subscriptions and the volume of usage, thus maintaining the sector’s annual revenue at its level.

According to the 2017 data, the telecommunications services revenue reached BD426m.

Moreover, operators continue to invest in this sector to provide latest technologies and best services as the investment volume reached BD45 million in 2017, which indicates continuous investment and competition in this sector.

“As part of its duties and powers, TRA exerts significant efforts to protect the interests of subscribers and promote an effective and sustainable competition between the operators. It also supports the execution of the government’s policy to maintain the kingdom’s position among the developed countries regionally and internationally in the main ICT indicators. This will highly recognise the kingdom’s economy as an economy capable of adapting to future changes,” said TRA acting general director Shaikh Nasser bin Mohamed Al Khalifa.

“TRA will continue to monitor and evaluate the performance and developments of the telecommunications sector and take the necessary measures to boost and develop it as it is an essential sector for the growth and development of other economic sectors to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030,” Shaikh Nasser added.

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/445033

 

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