As per The Telecommunications Services Residential Market Survey' report released by the telecom watchdog, all respondents have access to a mobile phone, and 98 per cent of respondents have access to internet services compared to 89 per cent in 2015, while a low percentage of respondents have access to a fixed lines service.

 

According to ITU data and the Global Competitiveness Report (2017-2018) that was published last month by the World Economic Forum, Bahrain is at the forefront of countries in terms of internet penetration and usage.

 

The kingdom has been ranked first globally for mobile broadband penetration and second for internet users, it added.

 

These results confirm that competition in the telecommunications sector has significantly contributed to the provision of telecommunications services to citizens and residents in Bahrain, according to TRA. 

 

As per the TRA’s survey, 31 per cent of the respondents have multiple mobile SIM cards instead of one, primarily in order to take advantage of various promotions that mobile operators offer, or to use separate SIMs for voice and mobile data, or to have separate SIMs for business or personal use. 

 

This percentage has decreased compared to the 2015 survey’s results, where it was 41 per cent, which indicates that mobile services have evolved to suit the requirements of users.

 

With respect to internet usage, the survey shows that the use of social networking sites is the main internet activity for 93 per cent of internet users, followed by the email by 71 per cent and downloading multimedia content by 70 per cent. 

 

"We place great importance to the views of telecoms users in the kingdom when reviewing developments in the telecommunications sector and establishing future strategies and decisions that encourage competition and protect the interests of users," explained Sheikh Nasser Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, the acting general director of TRA. 

 

"We are also keen to collect this data in a scientific manner according to international standards." he said.

 

The survey covers a representative sample of 1621 respondents aged 15 years and above, examines the usage of and access to different telecommunications services including fixed lines, mobile phones and internet services. It also measures the extent to which users are satisfied with their telecommunications services, OTT services and the Number Portability feature.

 

"The results of this survey and the latest reports published by international organizations confirm that Bahrain is moving forward to achieve the government's vision for the sector that the kingdom will remain at the forefront of digital developments, within the region and globally, as stipulated in the Fourth National Telecommunications Plan," stated Sheikh Nasser.-TradeArabia News Service