**Batelco is elevating communication standards for Bahrain and GCC**

Batelco, Bahrain’s leading digital solutions provider 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 recently. Batelco Bahrain CEO Eng. 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 1,400 KM, is managed by Batelco giving the Company full control and manageability. 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.

Mrs. Al Hashemi said that Batelco is very pleased to sign the collaboration agreement with GCCIA to elevate the standard of communications services for Batelco’s customers and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

“Batelco is investing in the new system and also highly reliable equipment to operate and maintain it, as part of our endeavours in developing world class networking services to support the Kingdom’s efforts and promote Bahrain as a hub for innovative communications services.”

“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,” Mrs. Al Hashemi added.

Mr. Al-Ebrahim said that the GCCIA is delighted to support Batelco’s efforts to position Bahrain as a regional and global hub for telecoms services.

“This Agreement comes as part of GCCIA’s strategy to support the economies of the GCC countries. We are delighted to have Batelco onboard as the leading telecom provider in GCC. The GCC Fibre Network spans across the GCC countries, and provides highly secure and reliable connectivity in the region, which is physically-separated from the operations of the GCC power grid.”

“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 Mr. Al-Ebrahim.