Bahrain's leading telecom services operator Batelco is positioning itself to be a technology partner rather than just a communications provider through its newly-launched one-stop-shop for information communication technology (ICT) and security solutions, said a top official.

The pioneering Batelco initiative means now top businesses and potential investors in Bahrain have a choice to come to the Kingdom's largest telecom company to avail a gamut of ICT services rather than go shopping door-to-door, remarked Bahrain chief executive Rashid Abdulla.

"We are Bahrain's communication backbone but we have now taken it upon ourselves to provide highly in demand other services like security solutions, high-speed and integrated data management services as well as a range of other offerings in ICT," Abdulla told the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Speaking after the company opened a state-of-the-art customer experience centre at its Hamala headquarters, Abdulla said nearly 5,000 customers, among them some Bahraini and multinational companies, had already joined up and the list was growing.

"What it means is that no one now needs to worry about themselves setting up an infrastructure of total solution, with one-stop shopping for IT, ICT and security, but instead entrust Batelco with that.

"They can then look at setting up other infrastructure, saving on costs, time and investment."

Batelco enterprise division general manager Adel Daylami said they already have more than 60 account managers and 12 consultants advising existing and potential customers.

"They have to only come to us with their requirement of data and ICT as well as security requirements and we will work out the best solutions to operate the business for them."

This includes managed services as well as those that look at only taking the equipment and services from Batelco.

Daylami said many of the smaller companies as well as small and medium enterprises would then be able to dispense with complicated ICT infrastructure they have to invest in.

"At a nominal and fixed monthly charge, all those needs will be looked after and supported by us," Daylami added.

He said in the traditional way, companies have to invest in expertise and manpower in managing their ICT departments and infrastructure.

"The new centre shows off all facilities and services where customers can come and decide what they need. A complete turnkey solution would then be provided depending on what is needed," he noted.

He said this investment would also protect the customer from technology becoming obsolete.

"In these days of fast developments in the sector, technology becomes obsolete very quickly, so the customer does not have to worry about changing or modernising equipment, which can be left to us.

"The idea is that we take the risk and you concentrate on promoting your business."

Daylami said in the future, there is a plan to also invest in new and upcoming technologies to further enhance customer experience.

"The time has now come to sell reliability and not a brand. This is the Batelco roadmap as we prepare ourselves to enable Bahrain's 2030 Economic Vision," he added.-TradeArabia News Service