HRH Premier approves 4th National Telecommunications Plan

Manama, May 8 (BNA):His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa today issued Edict 29/2016, approving the Fourth National Telecommunications Plan (NTP). The 4th NTP outlines the guidelines of the telecommunications sector for the next three years. It aims to develop the telecommunications infrastructure to cover the kingdom with the high-speed fiber-optic network and ensure providing high speed services at affordable prices, which will contribute to enhancing the Kingdom's economic development. The plan asserts that the implementation of the government's strategy and policies in the telecommunications sector build on the successes of the sector in order to maintain and upgrade the kingdom's leading status in the sector. The 4th NTP, approved by HRH the Prime Minister is based on eight main themes. They include developing the infrastructure of high-speed broadband services, consolidating sustainable competition in the field of mobile telecommunications and developing networks and systems to deliver the best services, managing the frequency spectrum effectively and developing the wireless infrastructure to ensure optimal use of the spectrum for the best interests of the sector and the kingdom. The plan also aims to strengthen the security of networks and electronic communications services and raising the consumers' awareness, improve the international connectivity of telecommunications networks, improving and facilitating access to Internet applications and services, as well as enhancing the kingdom's status as a regional centre for the information and communication technology (ICT) through improving its ranking in international telecommunications indicators and building the local capacities in this regard. Reviewing and updating the current telecommunications Law to keep pace with modern developments in the sector are also among the themes of the 4th NTP. The Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry shall follow up on the implementation of the Fourth National Telecommunications Plan (NTP) with the relevant sides over the next three years.