Telecommunications and Information Technology

The Kingdom of Bahrain has witnessed a significant electronic transformation in recent years through the utilisation of modern technology in government digital initiatives and projects. This has contributed to the enhancement of governmental performance by fostering a culture of innovation in the development, sustainability, and quality improvement of government services, as it remains committed to supporting innovation through e-government and launching advanced networks and capabilities.

Over the past years, the Kingdom has focused on implementing electronic transformation projects in coordination with ministries and governmental entities. Among these services, the enhancement of the user/client experience has resulted in reaching a total of 680 integrated electronic services available through e-government channels.

Trust in using government electronic services has led to an increase in the rates of electronic transactions, which reached 10.4 million transactions in 2023. This has contributed to reducing operational costs and minimizing the effort and time required to complete transactions.

Among the notable milestones in Bahrain's journey to support innovation is the development of the telecommunications market through the issuance of the Telecommunications Law and the establishment of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in 2002. This contributed to organising and liberalising the telecommunications sector competitively, the establishment of the Bahrain Internet Exchange in 2003, the provision of third-generation telecommunications services in 2004, and the development of the smart ID card in 2005, which serves as the official identification document for individuals, featuring security characteristics and containing personal information. The establishment of the Information and eGovernment Authority in 2007 provided an umbrella for all matters related to government information and organised electronic transformation in governmental sectors.

Furthermore, Bahrain has achieved advanced positions in the United Nations E-Government Survey in recent years, reflecting the Kingdom's progress in e-government readiness on a global level. Notably, Bahrain is the only Arab country classified in the 2014 report among the countries that achieved a high rating on the index. As a result, the Kingdom opened the door for other countries to benefit from its experience in this area, aiming to enhance their indicators and performance. Bahrain also took the initiative to translate the United Nations E-Government Readiness Report 2014 into Arabic, making the report more accessible and easier for readers to benefit from.

In 2014, the National Space Science Agency was established, and fourth-generation telecommunications services were provided. The year 2017 saw the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Centre and the launch of cloud computing services with Amazon Web Services, followed by the provision of fifth-generation telecommunications services in 2019. The year 2023 was marked by the launch of the electronic passport, which has garnered further recognition and international awards due to its advanced and innovative features.

Regarding the key statistics related to internet penetration, which serves as a driver for acquiring knowledge and information, internet penetration in 1999 was no more than 5% of the population in Bahrain. By 2023, internet penetration reached 100% of the population, reflecting a high level of awareness of technology and its importance, indicating that Bahrain does not suffer from digital illiteracy.

Additionally, the penetration rate of broadband services reached 158%, with the number of subscriptions totaling 2.49 million. The telecommunications sector generated revenues of 512 million Bahraini Dinars in 2022, with 2.4 million mobile phone subscriptions, achieving a penetration rate of 153% in 2023.