Bahrain's latest telecom sector indicators have shown excellent growth despite the global economic downturn, said a report in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The telecom sector is a significant factor contributing to Bahrain's national wealth and represents four per cent of Bahrain's 2011 gross domestic product, the report said citing the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority's (TRA) seventh market indicators data.

The mobile services contributed almost half of the revenues, contributing 46 per cent to the retail sector, the report stated.

According to TRA, the international calls comprised 22 per cent, leased lines 15 per cent, Internet 12 per cent and fixed telephony 5 per cent of the total revenues.

There are now approximately 2,700 direct employees, showing a 50 per cent increase in employment since the liberalisation of the telecoms market in 2003, said Minister of State for Telecommunications Affairs Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa.

"My goal for 2013 is to reinforce our telecoms sector through the TRA, to the benefit of the consumers and Bahrain's economic outlook," he said.

"Healthy competition will ensure that we offer the latest technology and attractive retail packages and price points," he added.

The ministry is working to provide necessary public policies to enhance the communications sector, added Shaikh Fawaz. The latest report contains market indicators for last year until the second quarter of this year.-TradeArabia News Service