Batelco launches free access to eGov services

In line with the National Day celebrations, and in an initiative that aims at providing free access to E-government services to citizens and residents, Batelco, Bahrain’s leading internet service provider and eGovernment Authority (eGA) jointly entered into a collaboration that will provide – for the first time – free web access to the E-Government portal and Ministry websites for all Batelco fixed line and mobile customers. This would include all web pages and electronic services provided from within the portals. The free access will also include those who do not have an active fixed broadband or mobile data subscription with Batelco.

The key project that supports Batelco and eGA’s ongoing commitment to deliver world class services to Bahrain will be a major contributor to the country’s social and economic development. Furthermore, the initiative is in line with the Kingdom’s 2030 Economic Vision and the government’s objectives that aim towards achieving a fully-automated electronic government, considered as one of the citizens’ rights.

Batelco Bahrain CEO Rashid Abdulla and eGovernment Authority CEO Mohammed Al Qaed at held talks at Batelco’s Hamala headquarters for the agreement for the free eGov service facility.

The Batelco CEO explained that Batelco was delighted to offer its customers free access to all government portals.

“Through this partnership with eGovernment Authority we can raise the lifestyle standard in Bahrain and support the government’s aspiration to develop Bahrain as a centre of excellence in the region for established businesses and to attract new enterprises to invest or set-up organisations here,” Abdulla, said.

“The combined high Batelco mobile and fixed line penetration rate in the Kingdom means that free access to the E-Government portal & Ministry websites is available to virtually everyone in the Kingdom” he added.

“The initiative is the first-of-its-kind in Bahrain, and will without a doubt significantly benefit users of the government portals,” Al Qaed, added, while praising Batelco’s keenness in satisfying their customers by providing higher quality services.

“This initiative meets one of the numerous objectives of the new recently-launched National eGovernment Strategy 2016, which is to increase partnerships and private sector ICT readiness,” he said.

Mobile customers who wish to access other websites, outside the boundaries of eGovernment services, will be charged. Fixed line customers with no active broadband subscription will be redirected to Batelco’s prepaid portal and will be requested to purchase a Batelco prepaid card, in order to access other non-governmental websites.

“Batelco believes that extending such free-of-charge access facility to the government portals will benefit the citizens as well as residents of Bahrain and encourage the usage of governmental services which is a national objective,” Batelco CEO added.