[November 11, 2009] We still have a long way to go Tweet Nov 11, 2009 (Gulf Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- BAHRAIN has made significant progress in liberalising the telecom industry, but there is still much to accomplish, according to the head of the country's watchdog of the industry. Seeking increased international connectivity for Bahrain is the most important challenge that the telecom industry will face in the near future, said Telecommunications Regulatory Autho-rity (TRA) director general Alan Horne. Mr Horne, who announced last week that he was leaving his position at the TRA when his contract expires at the end of the year, said that he had enjoyed his three-year tenure tremendously and will support his successor in any way necessary. "My three-year contract has come to an end and according to the Telecommunications Law a director-general is appointed for that period," he said. "I've enjoyed my three years and while it is possible for me to stay on for an additional term, that is not an option that looks likely." Mr Horne joined the TRA in November 2006 and in that time he has helped Bahrain's telecom industry through a controlled process of deregulation. This was recognised at last week's South Asia, Middle East and North Africa (Samena) Telecommunications Council awards ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey; with TRA Bahrain being awarded the Most Progressive Regulator of the Year. "Being recognised by Samena shows us what a great job we've done over the last three years and winning an award is the icing on the cake," said Mr Horne. "We've made tremendous strides in introducing wholesale products which reduce the price of retail broadband and we've seen progress in all the projects currently underway. These will only serve to improve Internet speeds and help eradicate download thresholds. Mr Horne said that he was disappointed that the TRA had not managed to successfully achieve Number Portability under his tenure. He said, however, that he remained confident that the option would soon be active in the Bahrain market. The official dismissed any suggestions that his departure was due in part to alleged financial irregularities at the TRA or related to recent controversies surrounding telephone masts or Batelco. He stressed that although much progress had already been made in liberalising the telecoms market, the TRA could not afford to rest on its laurels when it came to keeping ahead of other regulators in the region. "We have to be one of the cleanest bodies in government when it comes to finance and nobody needs to be cleaner than us, any assertions of irregularities are totally false," said Mr Horne. "International connectivity is one of the biggest single factors in aiding Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 and we have already looked to gain increased capacity from TATA Communications and through Gulf Bridge International. "In addition, direct access to Flag's international cable is critically important and this will all have a rapid impact on reducing international charges and increasing Internet speeds. "However, the real challenge is to ensure that these still happen." Mr Horne has been in the telecommunications industry for more thna 30 years, beginning his career in British Telecom before moving onto Phillips and Mitel Telecom. He founded InterConnect Comm-unications in 1984, which grew into an internationally renowned consultancy firm, advising on all matters of telecoms regulation. In 2001, he sold the company to Telcordia Technologies in the US. To see more of the Gulf Daily News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.gulf-daily-news.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Gulf Daily News, Manama, Bahrain Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]