Second anniversary sets MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) goals ever higher

He promised 2006 would be the year of continuous innovation in which the company would push the boundaries of technology even further to serve the customers and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

At the Press Conference and Gala dinner at Bahrain's Ritz Carlton Hotel and Spa Dr Al Barrak explained that in the last year the company introduced the world's most technologically advanced mobile services and at the same time, doubled customer numbers, fulfilling a pledge he made at the company's 1st anniversary.

"MTC-Vodafone's hugely positive experience in Bahrain is unique in the region and demonstrates that this is a market that rewards enterprise, creativity and innovation. In Bahrain we launched the most technologically advanced telecommunications network in the Middle East within just five months of being awarded a license. This world-beating achievement gives us the confidence to make Bahrain the incubator for all the MTC Group's future technologies and network infrastructure alternatives,"

Dr Saad Al Barrak said.

"In 2006 MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) will be among the leaders of the mobile technology industry in deploying more state-of-the-art technology, bringing faster, better and more accessible services, including HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Pack Access). Our customers will experience services that are even better than they could ever imagine," he added.

With a staff of over 85% Bahrainis driving MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain)'s progress since its launch in 2003, the company has exceeded its own ambitious goals and surpassed the expectations of the business community, making record earnings and reaching profitability two years ahead of schedule.

Its deployment of cutting edge contemporary technologies has given Bahrain world-class value for money mobile products and services, delivered continuously improving customer services and brought 3G wireless services to all corners of the country.

Dr Saad Al Barrak attributes MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain)'s success to the determined efforts of its staff. The resulting benefits for customers have enhanced the company's appeal and led to its rapidly increasing market share.

He said: "The essence of a successful company is its own people and so by placing the interests of our people at the heart of our organization, we are constantly improving our talents, skills, services and technological competencies in order to deliver the best in wireless communications."

Learning, development and performance management strategies designed by MTC Group and aimed at training and retaining staff are - according to a recent internal staff survey - highly valued by MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) employees. They cite the opportunities afforded by being part of an international group as an important contribution to work satisfaction.

MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) Chief Operating Officer: Dr. Marwan Alahmadi : "As part of a global company MTC-Vodafone brings international best practice, and gives customers and employees in Bahrain the opportunity to be part of the MTC Group 'family' enjoying the same level of our world respected services and quality both at home and abroad.

"Our presence in the Bahrain market has created a more competitive, dynamic mobile environment with the benefits of accelerated advances in the sector, better services, greater choices, keener pricing, enhancements in customer care and wider job opportunities,"

Dr. Marwan Alahmadi said.

"We pride ourselves on our innovative services with original, creative and very competitive tariff plans for all levels of use, and our mobile data services are the simplest and most easily accessible," he added.

"The last year has been a period of building on our strengths. MTC-Vodafone has introduced some of the most technologically advanced services in Bahrain available in the global telecom industry. These developments are entirely aimed at giving our customers what they want and moreover exceeding their expectations with easy to use creative mobile data services that make tomorrow's possibilities a reality. In addition our international standing gives MTC-Vodafone customers in Bahrain the same technologically enabled services that are enjoyed by our customers in our other regions," he said.

Since our commercial launch, MTC-Vodafone established a nation-wide technologically complex telecommunications network including GPRS/EDGE/3G connectivity giving customers coverage at speeds of up to 384 kbps and person-to-person video call capability. This technology remains today's most technologically advanced tools in the global telecom industry.

Other highlights of MTC-Vodafone innovative range of mobile solutions include:

• The first to launch Handset subsidies
• The first to launch 3G Roaming with more than 13 operators.
• Creative applications of SMS through interactive competitions, SMS2TV and SMS2Radio
• eeZee International Pre-Paid calling plan providing customers competitive international call rates
• Push email enterprise and consumer mobile office solutions
• Chatting services integrating Internet users and GSM mobile customers
• Live News broadcasts available from BBC World and other TV Channels for mobile customers
• 'Hewar' Postpaid Calling bundles; customized and tailor-made to offers innovative features including high speed Internet access and 3G video calls.
• Connecting Tune service allows callers to hear a special tune or song when calling MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) customers.
• Bulk SMS and Multimedia messaging.
• Instant Translation Service via SMS

MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) continued to play an important role in the community contributing more than BD 750,000 to education, youth empowerment and development, social welfare with a focus on children with special needs. Major investments have been made to the University of Bahrain focusing on Bahrain's long-term "e" -technology directions.