Licensing

GSM 1800 Guard Band Frequency Licence Auction process

To view the questions and answer on the Invitation to Tender document Click here.

• To view the amendments document to the Invitation to Tender click here
• To view the questions and answer on the Invitation to Tender document click here

3rd Mobile Invitation to Tender Clarifications:

• TRA has received a number of questions regarding the ability of bidders to meet the pre-qualification criteria in cases where the bidder is either a partnership or consortium. In order to assist potential; Bidder to draw together the appropriate pre-requisite experience TRA considers it important that these clarifications are made available in advance of the registration and question submission closing dates. In the event that the bidder is a partnership, will fulfilment of the pre-qualification criteria be pro-rated depending on the shareholding of each partner (e.g. in the case of the condition of have 10 million subscribers)?
• In the event that the bidder is a partnership/consortium, then overall the partnership/consortium must meet all of the pre-qualification criteria. Would a reputable vendor with international operating outsourcing arrangements to service subscribers indirectly qualify for the pre-qualification criterion of possessing 10 million subscribers?
• The pre-qualification criterion with regards to having at least 10 million subscribers worldwide refers to an operator’s subscribers not to subscribers using a particular vendor’s equipment, network or system. The relationship must be a direct relationship between the subscriber and the operator. In the event that the bidder is a partnership where one partner meets all or most of the pre-qualification criteria, what is the minimum acceptable qualifying shareholding of that partner?
• There is no minimum shareholding interest that must be met by a partner in the partnership or member of a consortium. In cases where the partner or consortium member holding the required qualifications equity is minimal it will be incumbent on the bidder to demonstrate through the technical submission that the requisite level of knowledge, expertise and capabilities will be made available to the operating company.

Second Mobile License Selection and Award

The Mobile License Application process began in January 2003. The purpose was to establish the second mobile operator on the basis of a schedule that complies with the Law. This is a summary of the process:

On 26 March 2003, the TRA announced the short listed applicants for the second mobile license in Bahrain. The award was announced on 20 April 2003 and the granted license was published on 22 April 2003. Details can be found in Public Notices on the Publications page.

The following documents are available:

• The Opportunity for a Second Mobile Telecommunications Operator in the Kingdom of Bahrain, 31 December 2002. View
• Invitation to Apply for the Second Mobile Telecommunications license and Frequency license in the Kingdom of Bahrain, 1st January 2003.View
• Mobile license Granted. On 22 April 2003, the TRA granted a mobile telecommunications license to MTC Vodafone (Bahrain) BSC (c). View

The related Telecommunications Law can be found on the Main Instruments page. Mapping material and associated data may be obtained from Geomatec, a public sector body owned by the Bahrain Centre of Studies and Research, which operates on a commercial basis, at www.bcsr.gov.bh telephone +973 17 540059, fax +973 17 531318.

See the FAQ for answers to questions received from interested parties and a Position Paper on the Rights and Capabilities of the Second Mobile Operator with respect to International Services and External Connections. The FAQ includes the Excel spreadsheet 'Mobile ITA Annex'.

Mobile licence Award,CCA DC 020. On 20 April 2003, the TRA announced the award of the second mobile licence in Bahrain.

Public Notices

Amendments