The Bahrain Communication Users Association (BCUA), a new association set up to safeguard the interests of users of communication devices and tools, has pledged to fight for more rights and fair competition.

The Association’s members said they would also strive to get communication services providers to lower rates for internet and other means of communication and look at ways to make users more aware of what they could do.

BCUA executive manager Abdulkarim Mansoor Al Asfoor told a press conference at the A A Bin Hindi Group headquarters in Khamis that although the society was established in 2010, it was only now that it had opened membership for people, small and medium enterprises and large companies.

'We shall hold regular meetings and discuss activities we plan to hold, but all efforts will be concentrated on getting users more rights, more privileges and cheaper facilities,' he said.

Al Asfoor said BCUA efforts would hopefully stimulate telecom firms to support the needs of users and contribute to the development of Bahrain's economy.

'We will also look at co-ordinating with operators and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority on legislation and how best consumers' interests could be protected.”

'Receiving opinions and suggestions from users, providing them with advice and guidance and forwarding suggestions to firms and the TRA will also be on the agenda,' he said.

Board chairman Ahmed Bin Hindi said the BCUA was seeking to use members' expertise to support, help and guide consumers.

'The BCUA will also publish a periodic magazine to address developments in the field of communication and talk about its activities and events,' he added. – TradeArabia News Service