Menatelecom, an investment subsidiary of Kuwait Finance House (Bahrain), has announced the launch of the first Prepaid Internet Broadband service in the Kingdom.

Menatelecom, the first company to launch a nationwide WiMAX 802.16e end-to-end network, has been providing the internet users in Bahrain with its state of the art WiMAX broadband technology, a new means of obtaining high-speed internet, said a statement from the company.

The latest service caters to customers who prefer the 'pay as you go' method without committing  to monthly bills. This service is well suited for customers who wish to access the internet both at home and on-the-go, said Abdul Razak Jawahery, executive manager of KFH-Bahrain and vice chairman and managing director of Menatelecom.

'The new WiMAX Prepaid Internet Broadband is proof that great things come in small packages,' he commented.

The new service, Jawahery said, enables customers to browse the Internet, send and receive emails, video conferencing and access business applications, all from the convenience of a laptop or PC, anywhere and anytime.

'Large volumes of data such as large e-mail attachments, movies and songs can now be downloaded faster than ever before,' he added.

Prepaid subscribers can enjoy this service with no obligations, no contracts, no monthly fees and no cancellation or reconnection fees. Moreover, no deposit is required for non-Bahraini customers. Customers can  enjoy  very high internet speed, up to 4Mbps with any prepaid package of their choice, Jawahery said.

The prepaid internet cards come in different denominations, BD 5 ($13.2), BD10, and BD20 with different download limits. The customer account with Menatelecom will always be active allowing the flexibility to, start or stop using the service at anytime, without any activation or deactivation charges.

“The launch of the Prepaid Internet Broadband service is a significant milestone for Menatelecom, and heralds a new era of connectivity for the people of Bahrain,” said Ali Amer, vice president and regional general manager, EMEA Wireless Networks Go-to-Market, Motorola.

Menatelecom worked with Motorola in the run up to the launch of the first prepaid broadband solution based on a SmartEdge, IBOSS, and NPM platform, to test the system ahead of the commercial launch and to ensure a smooth transition to customer availability.

The short turn-around – from development to integration and testing – was supported by Motorola’s flexible system design which allows modification with little or no development.

“Motorola’s  WiMAX solution provides reliable, best-in-class performance, and we are proud to have supported Menatelecom in the launch of the innovative new service, ensuring Menatelecom remains at the forefront of the telecommunications  industry, both on a regional and global platform,” Amer added.

To use the service, customers simply need to buy a menatelecom WiMAX device and a Prepaid Broadband card. The service provides customers with full control over their internet bills and they can top up online anytime anywhere.

'The new Prepaid Internet Broadband enables our customers to work better and more efficiently and stay connected no matter where they are located in the Kingdom,' Jawahery said.

'Menatelecom has always been committed to offering innovative products and services to its customers with the aim of meeting all their needs. This new product comes in line with this commitment,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service