TRA and Batelco jointly discuss wholesale services with other licensed operators

TRA anticipates that other licensed operators will be able to pass a proportion of these savings to end-users.

At present, the vast majority of Bahraini broadband users subscribe to relatively low line-speed services, (typically 256k). TRA anticipates that the new charges, which have overall been reduced by in excess of 20% in the residential market and in excess of 30% in the business market, will strengthen competition particularly for higher line-speed services.

The rates Batelco charges other operators to terminate calls to Batelco subscribers that have originated on another network (Call Termination Rates) have seen further reductions. Fixed line call termination has been reduced by 5%, whereas Mobile Call Termination has been reduced by 14%.

The overall charges paid by other licensed operators for national leased line circuits was reduced by 35%, and by 25% for international private leased circuits (IPLC's) .

The newly approved Reference Offer (which come into effect on 1 July 2008) and wholesale services were discussed in detail on 26 June 2008, in a joint meeting with Batelco and the other licensed operators hosted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

The meeting was chaired by TRA's General Director Mr. Alan Horne and attended by more then 40 representatives of licensed operators. In his opening speech Mr. Horne said: "I would like to praise the TRA and Batelco teams for their efforts in working together over the past few months to ensure that the wholesale products met the requirements of the sector. We expect that the newly approved Reference Offer will provide a stimulus to the competitive supply of telecommunications services at affordable prices for the benefits of consumers and Bahrain as a whole."

Batelco's Chief Executive Mr. Peter Kaliaropoulos said: "We are aiming to support the growth of the telecommunications market in Bahrain through the provisioning of better wholesale offers that support other licensed operators in providing competitive services to consumers."

TRA's Market and Competition Director Mr. Robert Middlehurst presented the background of reviewing the newly approved reference offer as part of TRA's responsibility of ensuring fair and reasonable wholesale products available to other licensed operators through Batelco's network.

During the meeting, Batelco's Wholesale and Carrier Services General Manager, Mr. John Ford, stated that the new pricing should stimulate operators to take up more wholesale services and pass on the cost savings to their consumers.

TRA's Competition Manager Mr. Adel Darwish presented the next steps in reviewing the non-price items of the reference offer, such as reviewing service level agreements, general terms and conditions, forecasting and processes for ordering and reporting faults.

Throughout the meeting, senior staff from Batelco and TRA were available to answer related queries or issues licensed operators raised.

Members of the industry praised TRA for its efforts in working closely with the operators to facilitate a proper environment for better competition. The newly approved Reference Offer is considered as another achievement of collaborative working between TRA and Batelco to facilitate better wholesales offers to other licensed operators.