TRA renews frequency licences of Batelco, Zain

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has awarded Batelco and Zain a 10-year extension to their mobile frequency licenses in the Kingdom.

The extension follows the expiration of their 15-year term awarded in conjunction with the Telecommunications Law and the liberalization of the Mobile Market in 2002. In a statement issued yesterday, the TRA said: “The renewed licenses in combination with other plans will allow Batelco and Zain to sustain and enhance their wireless services provided to their customers.” “The extension also reflects the healthy and competitive environment created by the TRA’s regulatory framework over the past 17 years,” said Acting General Director of TRA, Shaikh Nasser Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa.

With the exponential growth of data traffic, it has become crucial for mobile operators to not only maintain their allocated spectrum but also increase their spectrum portfolios to avoid service degradation.