Batelco Gulf Network to set new norms in connectivity

Manama: Batelco has announced the launch of Batelco Gulf Network (BGN) in cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA). 

The collaboration agreement was sealed at a signing ceremony held at Batelco’s Hamala Headquarters. Batelco Bahrain CEO Muna Al Hashemi and GCCIA CEO Ahmed Ali Al Ebrahim signed the agreement in the presence of officials from both organisations.

The BGN cable system which runs over the GCCIA power grid offers connectivity to all GCC countries, allowing Batelco to provide high bandwidth and capacity to customers and international carriers.

The terrestrial fibre cable, which spans 1,400km is managed by Batelco. Additionally, the cable can be interconnected with other regional submarine cables giving access to onward connectivity to Europe and Asia and major regional landing stations. 

Furthermore, the BGN is to be built over the state-of-the-art Optical Transport Network (OTN) and aims to provide a reliable alternative to customers and carriers to cater for their wholesale capacities with a reasonable cost.

As the fibre cables are elevated on electricity pylons they are less prone to cable cuts and easier to maintain compared to buried fibre or submarine cables. These benefits give the Batelco Gulf Network a unique advantage over other regional cable systems by introducing a fully protected ring on both submarine and terrestrial routes, the company said in a statement. 

“Once complete, the BGN will facilitate the introduction of new and innovative services which will greatly boost Bahrain’s and the GCC’s communications capabilities and enhance the development of businesses as well as provide opportunities for new businesses in the Kingdom of Bahrain,”Al Hashemi added. 

“We are confident that this network shall enhance telecom services for the Kingdom of Bahrain, and look forward to further our collaboration and partnership with Batelco,” added Al Ebrahim.