Bahrain Network (BNET), the national company responsible for providing fiber-based broadband network in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has signed a deal with Infonas, a key telecom services group in the Middle East, for the transfer of all its fixed fiber network assets to its fiber portfolio.
Announcing the strategic deal, BNET said this marks an important chapter in the development of the telecommunications sector, with Infonas being the first licensed operator to transfer its assets to BNET since the latter’s separation from Batelco in 2019.
In collaboration with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, BNET has been working to set optimal policies to enable the transfer of the fixed fiber network assets of licensed operators to the company, including the introduction of new BNET services to the Kingdom's wholesale sector, said a statement from BNET.
This comes as part of Bahrain’s Fifth National Telecommunications Plan (NTP5) which stipulates the transfer of all fixed telecommunications infrastructure assets to BNET, thus reinforcing its role as the kingdom’s national broadband operator providing equal access to all fiber-optic service providers.
Speaking on the occasion, CEO Ahmed Jaber Alhogbani Aldoseri said: "BNET is proud to be merging Infonas’ fixed assets to its single network, as part of our commitment to fulfilling the directives of the National Telecommunications Plan."
"We would also like to commend the efforts of both parties towards successfully completing this transaction. BNET is dedicated to working alongside all telecommunications companies and invites more network operators to transfer their assets to join our single network," stated Aldoseri.
Robert Rees, the Chief Revenue Officer at Infonas, said: "We are proud to be the first network to join the single national network through the transfer of our fixed assets to BNET."
"We hope this step will deliver more efficient fiber services and enhance coverage to unprecedented heights as we ensure our customers experience uninterrupted and elevated telecommunications services stronger than before. We also aim to contribute to achieving the national aspiration of unifying all fixed telecommunications infrastructure assets in Bahrain, and elevating the success of this vital sector," he added.