Bahrain Tops GCC in 5G Download Speed

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has made remarkable strides in download speeds among Gulf nations, with Qatar trailing closely, as revealed in a report by OpenSignal, a renowned analytics firm for mobile network experiences.

Titled "GCC Markets Rank Among the Best in EMEA for Mobile Network Experience," the report highlights that GCC countries have seen marked increases in 5G download speeds.

Users in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia experienced substantial gains in overall average download speeds last year, ranging from 13.6% to 77.6%, while the UAE saw a slight decline.

Notably, Bahrain and Qatar recorded over 20% increases in 5G download speeds.

The report affirms that all GCC countries offer an excellent mobile network experience compared to other markets in the region, particularly in 5G, with Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar leading in performance.

The GCC stands out for its exceptional 5G speeds in the analysed EMEA markets.

When comparing download speeds in GCC countries with 34 major markets in EMEA, users in the GCC enjoy the fastest speeds among all the compared markets. Bahrain leads with a speed of 52.4 Mbps, followed by Qatar at 48.8 Mbps, and Kuwait at 47.6 Mbps.

The speed rates in the GCC region are among the most impressive globally, especially for 5G networks. In all six Gulf markets, the average 5G download speeds reach 200 Mbps.

The UAE and Qatar top the list for overall availability, with users connecting to 3G, 4G, or 5G signals 98.9% of the time in these two markets.

In three other GCC markets—Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait—5G users spend more than a fifth of their time on an active 5G connection, with Kuwait leading at 37.6%.

In terms of upload speeds via 5G, Qatar had the highest average upload speed in the region, followed by the UAE at 27.6 Mbps, Kuwait at 24.6 Mbps, Saudi Arabia at 23.7 Mbps, Bahrain at 15.3 Mbps, and Oman at 13.5 Mbps.

Research by Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) reveals that average 4G download speeds have more than doubled since 2020, rising from 85 Mbps in 2020 to 266 Mbps in 2022.

Given our daily reliance on mobile communication services, high-quality service levels have become essential.

The analysis by the authority indicates that the three mobile networks operating in the Kingdom offer good service levels and are continually improving.

This analysis provides a thorough review of network performance and service aspects, ensuring that its results reflect the actual performance of networks and their services.

The Global Mobile Network Experience Awards in the GCC, presented by OpenSignal, provide regular reports on the state of mobile network experience in GCC markets and award operators based on user-recorded experiences.

These reports are issued twice a year, and over time, the proportion of awards won by each operator has changed, although most GCC markets show consistency in the operator winning the most OpenSignal awards.

OpenSignal's detailed analytics for each operator can help operators and regulators understand the reasons behind these results and identify areas to focus on to improve the mobile experience for users.