Bahrain TRA contemplates funding number portability database

The Bahrain Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has told Comm. that it will most likely fund the central database or database solution for Bahrain’s number portability project, a cost usually worn by operators and which could amount up to US$2 million.

Rob Middlehurst of Bahrain TRA says the regulator is considering funding the number portability database but operators would still need to pay for their significant back office costs. 

Speaking earlier today on the sidelines of the Number Portability Middle East event in Dubai, the Bahrain TRA’s director of market and competition, Rob Middlehurst, said the regulator’s consultants, Mott MacDonald and Horrocks Technology, are still determining what the most cost-effective solution is for implementing number portability.

However, once that decision is made there will be significant costs that operators Batelco and Zain Bahrain will need to undertake in migrating their processes to ensure they are ready for the planned launch of number portability, scheduled for Q109.

“If we decide we want the centralised database approach, then operators will have to do their own solutions in-house including updating their billing system,” Middlehurst commented.

“At this stage we haven’t made the firm decision to say we will fund the central database, we’re saying we are considering it. The reality of it is that we probably will fund it, but it depends what the solution looks like and what funding it means. But the operators would still have to fund their own back office costs.”

Mott MacDonald and Horrocks Technology is expected to complete its study and draft regulations by the end of August, after which there will be a public tender for the IT solutions required.

Operators will then have six or seven months to prepare their internal processes in anticipation for mobile and fixed number portability to go live early next year.