Mubasher: The transportation and telecommunications minister of Bahrain, Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed, has announced the completion of Bahrain Telecommunications (Batelco)’s legal separation process as part of implementing the fourth National Telecommunication Plan (NTP4) approved by Bahrain’s Council of Ministers in May 2016.

Following this announcement, Batelco will be separated to two independent entities which are the new infrastructure company for National Broadband, set to be efficiently resourced to deploy and operate the National Broadband Network (NBN) and associated wholesale products and services, and Batelco Bahrain which will be responsible for the retail and enterprise operations.

The two separate entities will remain under the ownership of Batelco, the leading telecom company said in a disclosure to Bahrain Bourse (BHB) on Tuesday.

Batelco has recently announced the appointment of Mohamed Bubashait as the CEO of the new infrastructure company for National Broadband and Mikkel Vinter as the new CEO of Batelco Bahrain.

“The new infrastructure company will work with the government to create a fibre-optic network providing residents in all areas of the kingdom with high-speed internet access. These developments come in line with the Economic Vision 2030, which focuses on the provision of high-quality services in the Kingdom of Bahrain and will achieve the government’s vision of the 4th National Telecommunications Plan,” the kingdom’s telecom minister said.

The announcement of the legal split was made during a press conference held on 13 May in the presence of Batelco chairman, Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, as well as acting director of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Shaikh Nasser bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Batelco board members, executive management, stakeholders, and officials from concerned parties.

Batelco chairman Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa commented: “We also want to confirm that the restructuring of the Company, as part of the NTP4, is going to create new horizons for Batelco and opportunities to invest in digital technology and furthermore, create new and diverse revenue streams which are in line with the kingdom’s vision for the growth of the digital economy.”