TRA, Gateway Gulf, and Zain Bahrain establish international connectivity

Achieving international connectivity has been a top priority for most Bahraini operators. As a result, for the first time ever in a project initiated and coordinated by the TRA, operators in the Kingdom have come together towards a common goal, which is expected to stimulate the economy and dramatically change the landscape of connectivity in the country.

The project is a milestone in terms of the country's connectivity, making it an ideal and attractive prospective for foreign investment and international corporations through the new international connectivity system, allowing cost effective options for international corporations by lowering the price of connectivity.

The projects will also promote diversity in terms of services and products, increase competition, allows redundant connectivity (more advanced and efficient network connections), and providing a general better quality of service to customers and end users.

The first step of the consortium of operator's is to create a transmission network comprised of the required Infrastructure, Ducts and Cables. The transmission network stretch from Gateway Gulf's Tier 4 Business Center in Salmaniya, to King Fahad Causeway passing by the seef district.

The project consists of laying a number of main ducts, with three sub-ducts each. Each of the operators will control one of the ducts with its sub-ducts, enabling the operators to pull fiber optic cables that will serve as a communication backbone to the Kingdom.

Alan Horne, General Director, Telecommunication Regulatory Authority, commented:

"Internet connectivity and diversity is one of the most important aspects for the growth. Today's ceremony marks an important development for the country in increasing international connectivity. We believe that this new project will provide a platform for internationally renowned organizations such as Google, Yahoo and Amazon to set up upon the project's completion."

The TRA will continue to encourage joint projects among operators with similar strategic goals.

Tariq Husain, Chairman of Gateway Gulf said, "Thanks to the government of Bahrain and TRA, we are now able to open access to international carriers, which will reduce costs and stimulate our economy. Congratulations to Bahrain for taking the initiative to become a true regional business hub."

Esam Zainal, the Network Director at Zain Bahrain said, "This project is a big step towards building a Kingdom-wide fiber-based backbone network, as well as linking Bahrain to the world via the King Fahad causeway. We are pleased to be part of such a milestone joint project to create a more level playing field in the telecoms sector, and to advance the telecommunications infrastructure of the Kingdom of Bahrain."

The length of the project from the Gateway Gulf Business Center in Salmaniya to the Toll Plaza on the Saudi Causeway is 18 kilometers. Joint boxes will be allocated every 300 meters, where each box has a previsions for branching out, giving the operators the opportunity to expand their individual networks across Bahrain.

Discussions with internationally renowned corporations have already begun, and new and exciting prospects throughout the Kingdom are set to be unraveled shortly as a result of the efforts of the joint forces of these organizations.