| TRA's Initiatives for covid-19 - 15/03/2020 |
| Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) |
| TELECOM/ICT Policy Makers and Regulators | Arab States | Bahrain |
| 1. Ensuring consumers can communicate with emergency services and hospitals at all times & urging operators to provide telecommunications services that help ease social distancing, including forbearance on late payments and ensuring no services are disconnected during this critical time. TRA also advised the closure of telecom retail shops and for operators to provide consumers with remote alternatives online. Further, operators are required to limit home visits to emergencies only. 2. Support services through telecom to promote business continuity and social responsibility throughout the Kingdom by removing fixed internet data caps as well free web browsing services for students to promote distance education. 3. Prior to the implementation of the decision to close the shops, the TRA issued a circular to all telecommunications service providers containing the required health requirements and precautionary measures to be applied to all branches of consumer services in the Kingdom of Bahrain, including preventive measures recommended by the Ministry of Health. 4. In accordance with the applicable procedures, telecommunication service providers must submit their financial documents on April 1st each year in order to calculate the annual license fees. Because of the current situation, the Authority has granted an additional two months to telecommunications companies to submit their financial documents without any fine or legal action. |