*** ----> Batelco splits into 2 entities | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Batelco splits into 2 entities

Manama : Batelco’s Board of Directors held a meeting on May 3rd 2018 in which they approved the administrative and operational structure of Batelco’s two separate entities, one of which will focus on retail services and the other focused on wholesale services. 

During the meeting, the Board also agreed that the new wholesale company responsible for the National Broadband Network will be operating from the Batelco Commercial Center in Manama as its headquarters. 

This is the first step towards achieving a successful split in line with the Fourth National Telecommunications Plan which was approved by the Council of Ministers back in May 2016. 

The Batelco Commercial Center marks the establishment of Batelco in 1981, and was chosen once again as the headquarters for the new wholesale company, witnessing yet another national achievement for the Telecommunications sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Among the strategic decisions agreed upon during the meeting was an approval on the security and cyber security strategy in regards to the separation process. Additionally, the Executive Management presented a detailed strategic plan in which security was highlighted as a top priority in all steps related to the split into two entities. 

The Board of Directors also directed the Executive Management to develop the brand identities for the two entities to represent the new phase and enhance the company’s vision to provide unsurpassed services to its customers in both the retail and wholesale sector.

In addition, the Board has requested to have come to an agreement that a specialized firm shall perform an audit of the company’s assets to ensure a smooth separation process. 

Batelco Chairman, Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa expressed his delight in achieving this strategic step which will serve the Kingdom’s Telecommunications sector in line with the Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030. 

He stressed that the separation will become a beneficial to all parties, as this new chapter will create a healthy competitive environment that aims to increase efficiency and productivity and the level of service offered to customers, as well as strengthening the Kingdom’s position on the global communications map.

Batelco Bahrain Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Bubashait, expressed the Company’s pride in achieving this strategic step, which is a major leap for Telecommunications in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

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“Over the past few months, we have been focusing our efforts on implementing a comprehensive action plan to translate the vision into reality, as we consider the separation a pure national mission which put set at the top of our priority. The next phase is the most important in the process of separation and requires the solidarity of all parties and coordination of efforts to achieve success and the strategic national goals for the telecommunications sector in the Kingdom” he added.