Page 8 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020
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POSITIONING THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN AMONG THE LEADING DIGITAL ECONOMIES  SAMENA TRENDS

        developed  by the TRA to improve the   Course’, amongst others.          compared to 22,552 requests in 2017); and
        dispute handling  process;  establishing                                 64% reduction in fixed number portability
        the principles  and procedures  for the   Under its  staff  development  initiative   requests  (2817, compared to 7800
        submission,  handling  and resolution  of a   the TRA  implemented  several initiatives   requests in 2017).
        Dispute arising between a Subscriber and   including  the Culture  Transformation   TRA also led from the front on the global
        a licensed operator.                 Program, imparting EQFM  based  training   telecommunications  arena.  Alongside
                                             to new TRA employees;  ‘Lean Six Sigma   attending many international conferences
           According  to  the  Global        Training’;  ‘Mini Mobile  World  Congress’   and seminars, including  the noted  ITU
           Competitiveness         Report    workshop focusing on ‘New Technologies’,   20th  Plenipotentiary  Conference  (PP-18);
                                                                                 TRA  represented  the  Arab Region  within
                                             with  leading global ICT  infrastructure
           published  by the  World          provider,  Huawei; and  a  Workshop,   ITU-T Study Group 17 for Cyber Security,
           Economic         Forum       in   Leadership  Program, in Cooperation with   and hosted  the 16th  Annual AREGNET
                                                                                 Conference in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
                                             Global Executive Education and BIBF.
           October      2018,    Bahrain     The   Kingdom’s   telecommunications
           ranked  3rd  globally  in         sector  witnessed continuous  competition   TRA won the prestigious  CommsMEA’s
                                                                                                          the
                                                                                                               Year”
                                                                                 “Regulatory
                                                                                                       of
                                                                                             Initiative
                                             and achievements in providing diverse and
           internet user percentage at       high-quality telecommunications services   Award for 2018, at  the 13th Annual
           98%; 5th globally in mobile       to both residential and businesses users.   CommsMEA Awards in Dubai, UAE,
           broadband penetration rate        Some  mobile  services prices  decreased   for its  efforts  in  developing  the Public
                                                                                 Radiocommunications Stations Regulation
                                             by  27% between  2017  and 2018  and as
           (147.3%); and 10th globally       much  as 54% between  2013 and 2018.   aiming at  ensuring secure and  advanced
           in  mobile  penetration rate      Fixed broadband  prices also  fell by  7%   telecommunications infrastructure.
                                             between 2017 and 2018 and as much as
           (158.4%).                         82% between 2013 and 2018.          In  acknowledgement of the Authority’s
                                                                                 efforts  that  demonstrated  the  greatest
        A new integrated  complaint  and inquiry   The  steep decline  in the  services’ prices   commitment  to  its  financial  policies  &
        management  system  – featuring a    contributes  to  the  significantly  high   procedures combined with the key initiative
        consumer  portal  where  consumers could   penetration  rates  of telecommunications   to improve operational effectiveness, TRA
        easily log in and submit details  of their   services in Bahrain, which have constantly   was presented with the “Finance Team of
        complaint and supporting documents; was   remained  amongst the highest rates   the Year – Public Sector” award, at  the
        also launched in order to maintain effective   globally, over the past several years.  ‘CFO  Strategies Forum MENA’, in Dubai,
        communication between TRA, consumers                                     UAE.
        and licensed operators.              According  to the Global Competitiveness
                                             Report published  by the World Economic   For its outstanding employee development
        Keen to better serve all society segments,   Forum in  October 2018,  Bahrain  ranked   and training programs, TRA was awarded
        including  disabled  consumers;  TRA  3rd globally  in internet  user  percentage   the “Excellence  in  HR-  Employer of the
        launched  a  video call service for its   at 98%; 5th globally in mobile broadband   Year” Award, at the 2018 Future Workplace
        Consumer Call Center, which enabled any   penetration rate (147.3%); and 10th globally   Awards, in Dubai, UAE.
        android user to initiate a video call directly   in mobile penetration rate (158.4%).
        to TRA’s Consumer Call Center, to submit                                 Earlier, an accomplishing  year, 2017
        their complaints and enquiries.      2018 also witnessed  a 36% reduction  in   had ushered in a  new era in the Bahrain
                                             mobile  number  porting requests  (14,449   telecommunication  sector,  setting
        Awareness   campaigns   were   also
        conducted  throughout  the  year to inform
        and empower  consumers.  ‘Know Your
        Rights’; ‘Your Sim Your Responsibility’; and
        ‘I am Roaming Ready’ being the highlight.
        As part of its initiatives under the Fourth
        National  Telecommunications  Plan  to
        develop human resources capacity in the
        telecommunications sector, TRA launched
        a  number of initiatives, and conducted
        workshops  &  sessions  throughout  the
        year including  the “VAT for Telecoms
        Workshop” in collaboration  with KPMG
        for its  employees  and licensed  telecom
        companies, and ‘5G Masterclass Training
                                                      TRA Bahrain received an award for “Finance Team of the Year-Public Sector”.

                                                                                                     8    JANUARY 2020
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