Batelco, Bahrain's leading integrated telecommunications provider, is on target with the rollout of phase 3 of its NGN (Next Generation Network) services.

The company has committed an investment of $16 million for the final phase of its $57 million investment to complete the ambitious Batelco project to deliver automated Broadband access to all residences in the kingdom, and make Bahrain the first country in the world with complete countrywide broadband.
 
As part of the implementation process a further four areas, Al Jazaer, Al Wadi, Awali and Sakhir are being migrated to the new services during October. Batelco now provides over 203,000 fixed lines throughout the Kingdom, and by year end 65,000 lines will have been connected to Batelco’s NGN - 21st century network.

NGN services facilitate triple play (Voice, Data & Video) on a single line which traditionally only carried voice telephone services. The service will allow new customers to connect to Batelco Broadband Internet within one day, from a process that usually took two weeks prior to migration.

“Batelco’s NGN will deliver our promise to bring affordable broadband access to all of Bahrain’s households and enable an e-lifestyle for all residents sharing information, education and entertainment” said Batelco corporate affairs general manager Ahmed Al Janahi.

“The migration process takes only about an hour and is always carried out in the early hours of the morning, beginning at 4.30 am so as not to cause any inconvenience for customers.”

The project which will be completed by August next year, will put Batelco’s customers among the best connected in the world.

“Batelco continues to invest millions annually in Bahrain’s infrastructure. Since 1981 the Company has invested $1.4 billion, to ensure residents can avail of world class communications services, and further improve Bahrain’s competitiveness by positioning the Kingdom as a natural choice for communications intensive companies to locate their regional headquarters,” concluded Al Janahi. - TradeArabia News Service