Business & Finance Club Magazine - Communication Sector - MANAMA: Batelco has signed a contract that will see its technological capability further enhanced in its mobile network expansion project - MNE 2010.

Batelco embarked on its MNE 2010 project, at an investment of BD14.5 million ($38.5m), to address the growing demand for world-class communication services from business customers and consumers in Bahrain.

"Demand for mobile broadband services continues to grow exponentially as it is driven by the increasing use of mobile data cards, smart phones and Blackberries to access the Internet, email and download data whilst on the move," said Batelco chief executive Bahrain Gert Rieder.

"Our major objective is to enhance, upgrade and expand our mobile voice and Internet network to tackle a number of needs such as providing or enhancing coverage and quality of service in newly-developed or remote areas.

"The MNE 2010 project will ensure a superior network performance for Batelco and also ensure our readiness for long-term evolution (LTE), often branded as 4."

Batelco mobile users will experience faster access to the Internet and superior voice service any time and anywhere across the kingdom.

The networks will also be capable of handling much greater throughput of data in real time that's required to support such services as mobile video streaming and conferencing, web-based applications and services and the rapid transfer of large files.

LTE will have a download data transfer rate of up to 10 times faster than that of 3G.

LTE will provide Batelco mobile users with significant benefits that extend beyond traditional day-to-day wireless communications.

Consumers will benefit from access to a wide range of new innovative multimedia applications. It also opens the doors for innovative applications, products, services, and solutions targeted not only to today's handheld mobile devices, but also to other non-traditional devices.

The Batelco-Ericsson contract was signed by Mr Rieder and Ericsson president and head of GCC countries Ray Hassan at a meeting held at Batelco headquarters in Hamala.

Mr Hassan said that Ericsson has been partnering with Batelco for more than 30 years, to deliver innovative telecommunications solutions.

"Working alongside skilled Batelco personnel, with the co-operation of Batelco's executive management has always been the key to a strong partnership that has grown into a real success story that we are proud of," he said.

Mr Rieder said that Batelco's BD14.5m commitment to the MNE 2010 project was the company's biggest financial commitment since their next generation network project.