TRA’s decision to restrict Menatelecom from bidding is contradictory to its main obligations to encourage fair competition in a non-discriminatory and transparent manner in order to attract investors, enhance and promote a competitive investment environment, and protect the interests of customers in the Telecommunications sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
On the 16th of February 2012, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) granted Menatelecom mobility to allow it to offer nationwide mobile services in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Menatelecom was officially registered and accepted by the TRA-Bahrain as a qualified entrant in the current 4GLTE Broadband Auction.
On Thursday 14th March, 2013 (seven days before the Auction closing date) TRA-Bahrain was continuing to send Auction updates to Menatelecom. The amendment to effectively exclude Menatelecom was on Sunday 17th March 2013, while the Auction date was Thursday the 21st of March 2013.
Days later Menatelecom won an injunction order to participate in the Award of the Mobile Individual Licenses known as 4GLTE Broadband Auction upon Urgent Matter Case order to obligate TRA-Bahrain to allow Menatelecom to enter the Auction.
“Menatelecom trusts that fair competition is the only economically viable tool to enhance the quality of services provided to the market, increase the value for money spent by the customer, and lower the prices,” Menatelecom in a statement said.
“Menatelecom is a Bahraini company with 93% Bahrainisation and provides its service at competitive prices for a wide share of the Bahrain Market in addition to significantly adding to the National GDP. Menatelecom is known to be one of the main contributors to the social welfare of Bahrain youth.”