The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has signed a contract with Epitiro, an industry expert in broadband measurement and benchmarking, to design, build and operate a permanent broadband test platform in Bahrain.

The aim is to continuously monitor and report on the service quality of Internet and broadband service providers.

Through this quality of service measurement, the TRA is aiming to provide the consumer with information on Internet quality of services to assist in their choice of provider.

Making such information publicly available should encourage operators to ensure they maintain a high level of service and fulfil customers' expectations.

Fully automated testing will provide both the TRA and consumers with information on many factors which affect the quality of the customer experience for both domestic and international connectivity, including download and upload speed, web browsing speed and other critical parameters.

Specific retail broadband packages from all licensed operators will be tested and results will be made available to consumers on a quarterly basis in the form of graphical displays, thereby allowing people to easily compare results between licence operators.

In addition, the quality achieved by the industry in Bahrain will be benchmarked in a dynamic way compared to the quality achieved by operators in other parts of the world, including Far East, Europe and the US.

'With growing competition in the supply of broadband Internet access, the TRA is keen to ensure that consumers understand what they are getting in terms of speed and data before they buy and then that they get what they have been promised,' said TRA general director Alan Horne.

'TRA will be taking action to ensure that advertising is not misleading and then through regular measurements we will ensure that ISPs deliver what they promised in their advertising,” he added.

'At Epitiro, we are delighted to add TRA Bahrain to our growing number of international telecommunications regulator clients,' said group business development director Steve Greenwood.

'Epitiro's broadband performance analysis delivers up-to-the-minute competitive benchmarking reports on key service quality performance indicators and will ensure that the TRA can provide regular reports to consumers, showing the level of service they should expect from their own ISP together with information on who is delivering the best local service,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service