Bahrain Completes Preparations to Launch 5G Network

A display of smartphones at last year's Mobile World Congress. AFP file photo
A display of smartphones at last year's Mobile World Congress. AFP file photo
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Bahrain Completes Preparations to Launch 5G Network

A display of smartphones at last year's Mobile World Congress. AFP file photo
A display of smartphones at last year's Mobile World Congress. AFP file photo

Bahrain announced that it has completed preparations to launch 5G mobile networks, putting it on track to be one of the first countries in providing commercial 5G services to consumers by the end of 2019 once devices are made available.

Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed has announced that the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is scheduled to allocate licensing and spectrum by the first week of April.

Mobile operators in Bahrain have started rolling out the necessary network infrastructure, said the minister, adding that commercial services will become available by June.

The Minister admitted the project faced a lot of challenges, namely the method of ensuring spectrum's availability, but overcoming these obstacles was possible due to the efforts of “Team Bahrain” that includes elite representatives from both the public and private sectors.

This “demonstrates how Bahrain can make a swift progress … in partnership with technology pioneers in the world.”

With the new 5G technology, users will be able to transfer bigger volume of data at higher speeds, which in turn, enables the development and implementation of technologies required for autonomous driving vehicles that need up to 100Gb of data per second to operate, explained the Minister.

This places Bahrain among the world’s leading countries in adopting the 5G technology and makes the Kingdom more appealing for companies that use the next-generation technologies such as autonomous vehicles and VR.

In June 2018, Bahrain held several successful commercial trials for 5G technology and all licensed operators are preparing to provide commercial 5G services.

The products and services will allow Bahraini companies to tap into the global 5G services market, which is anticipated to grow from an estimated $60 billion in 2020 to an estimated $125 billion in 2025.

The Kingdom’s ranking is high in global ICT indices, being the first in the Arab region on the ICT Development Index (IDI) of UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and ranking 4th globally in the UN’s Telecommunications Infrastructure Index (TII) of the E-Government Development Index (EGDI) in 2018.



Saudi Arabia Unveils Pavilion at International Defense Exhibition and Conference in UAE

The Saudi pavilion is showcasing the latest technologies and advanced systems, underscoring the significant progress the Kingdom has made in localizing military industries, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. (SPA)
The Saudi pavilion is showcasing the latest technologies and advanced systems, underscoring the significant progress the Kingdom has made in localizing military industries, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. (SPA)
TT
20

Saudi Arabia Unveils Pavilion at International Defense Exhibition and Conference in UAE

The Saudi pavilion is showcasing the latest technologies and advanced systems, underscoring the significant progress the Kingdom has made in localizing military industries, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. (SPA)
The Saudi pavilion is showcasing the latest technologies and advanced systems, underscoring the significant progress the Kingdom has made in localizing military industries, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. (SPA)

The activities of the Saudi pavilion, organized by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), kicked off on Monday at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference "IDEX 2025" in Abu Dhabi. This event is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

Governor of GAMI Eng. Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali participated in the launch, in the presence of Lt.-Gen. Mohammad Bin Abdulrahman bin Hamed Al-Gharibi, Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Sultan bin Abdullah Al-Angari, Saudi ambassador to the UAE, and a number of officials, international investors and decision-makers in the sector.

Al-Ohali emphasized the significance of the Kingdom's participation in IDEX 2025 as a leading global platform for showcasing the latest military technologies.

He underscored the importance of establishing international partnerships that enhance the Kingdom's defense and security capabilities.

The Saudi pavilion serves as a strategic window that reaffirms the Kingdom's commitment to developing its defense sector and strengthening national competencies, contributing to the ambitious goal of localizing over 50% of military spending by 2030, he added.

During the exhibition, GAMI signed a cooperation agreement in the field of government quality assurance with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration in South Korea.

The agreement aims to boost the assurance and reliability of defense products and services carried out under purchasing and acquisition operations, in accordance with the local laws and regulations of both sides.

The agreement reflects the mutual desire of both parties to deepen joint cooperation in the field of defense industry and technology, in a way that achieves the national interests of both countries. The two parties also intend to expand the scope of cooperation by exchanging experiences and best practices in the field of government quality assurance for defense products and services.

The Saudi pavilion is showcasing the latest technologies and advanced systems, underscoring the significant progress the Kingdom has made in localizing military industries, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

It is presenting the latest locally developed defense technologies across military, defense, and security industries. It features a variety of military products aimed at highlighting the capabilities of the defense and military sectors. Additionally, it presents investors with a conducive investment environment and the promising opportunities available in the sector.

In addition to GAMI and the General Authority for Defense Development (GADD), the pavilion includes the World Defense Show (WDS), along with several national companies operating in the military industries sector. The companies include the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the National Company for Mechanical Systems (NCMS), the Middle East Propulsion Company (MEPC), the Saudi Chemical Company Holding (SCCH), AlKorayef Group, Life Shield Military Industries (LIFE SHIELD), Emaan International, QUDRA Industrial Company, and the Saudi Company for Aircraft Maintenance and Preparation (GDC).