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Bahrain: After auction scrapped, LTE spectrum allocation deemed successful

By  |  September 20, 2013

The government of Bahrain has reportedly allocated crucial radio frequency spectrum for upcoming LTE mobile services to the nation’s three main operators several months after an initial plan for a spectrum auction was scrapped.

Batelco, Zain and VIVA were awarded the spectrum by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority as part of an agenda to increase investor confidence in the telco industry. The LTE allocation will allow mobile data speeds to potentially double, say reports.

The TRA will also be closely watching the developments of the LTE rollout to determine whether additional spectrum should be handed out.

The allocation of the spectrum was the result of a cancelled auction planned for last March. Operator Menatelecom appealed the auction plans, claiming it was anticompetitive because the operator was excluded from bidding.

Full Content: Gulf-Daily News

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