Through this network deployment VIVA Bahrain will support the growing demand of its wholesale and enterprise customers across the GCC and other international markets with high-quality networking services IP capacity voice and signalling coupled with lowest possible latency said a statement from the company. VIVA s investment into the new POPs has been spurred by rapidly increasing requirements of its business customers in Bahrain with presence across the region and globally looking for high-quality network performance a diverse range of services that are secure reliable flexible and cost-effective and support their business needs. With the POPs deployment in London and Frankfurt considered major financial hubs and busiest centres for Internet traffic in the world VIVA customers will have access to direct and reliable connectivity through its key partnerships with tier-1 regional and global network carriers. They will experience an unparalleled combination of low latency world-class service and latest technology that is currently unavailable with other telecom operators VIVA Bahrain said. The POPs expansion is a significant and strategic addition to VIVA s global infrastructure to cater to the heightened demand for optimal connectivity services with high capacities and low latency for companies doing business in the European market said VIVA Bahrain chief executive Ulaiyan Al Wetaid. With this we will be ensuring our comprehensive suite of network solutions at affordable and competitive offers that are readily available to our existing and growing business customer base to provide them with an enhanced level of service and customer experience. With a focus on expanding our presence across other regions we will continue with our ongoing investment in strengthening the overall infrastructure to meet global needs of our business customers across Bahrain and international markets Mr Al Wetaid added.

MANAMA: Live streaming of 4K video self-driving cars and remote surgeries using robotics are just some of the possible future applications of 5G or 5th generation mobile connectivity which will be available in Bahrain in the first quarter next year it has emerged. VIVA Bahrain chief executive Ulaiyan Al Wetaid told the GDN on the sidelines of the launch of the kingdom s first live and public 5G network demonstration at City Centre Bahrain s Central Galleria that Bahrain s youngest licensed mobile operator was leading the way in the roll-out of the new technology with work already in progress at many sites around the country. VIVA Bahrain has been building the infrastructure for the launch of 5G and this (the showcase) is our first public site showing we will be proactive in providing the service he said. We expect to launch the service commercially early next year and it will contribute in increasing the speed and performance of wireless networks. VIVA Bahrain has already started its 5G deployment and the demonstration stand is the first site for 5G. The demo now open to the public is a showcase of the life-changing speeds and capabilities of 5G for homes and businesses with a number of 5G-enabled devices available for public trials such as 4K UHD TV and virtual reality (VR) goggles.

MANAMA: VIVA Bahrain will be geared up for fifth generation or 5G telecom services by the year-end or early next year when the kingdom s telecom regulator makes spectrum available according to the company s chief executive Ulaiyan Al Wetaid. On the sidelines of VIVA Bahrain s Ramadan media ghabga at the Ritz-Carlton he told the GDN that 5G services are considered a significant leap forward in customer experience. VIVA Bahrain has started the testing process on the fifth generation technologies and the company will be proactive in providing the service. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has a plan to offer the frequencies required to provide the fifth generation services to operators as part of the National Telecommunications Plan and that the necessary frequencies will be made available by the end of this year or early 2019 to provide the services in Bahrain he said. The provision of the fifth generation services will be in multiple stages he said. Since the beginning of 2018 the company has begun to develop the appropriate technologies to provide the fifth generation services and to be pioneers in information and communication technology. According to a report on Howtogeek.com while 4G tops out at a theoretical 100 megabits per second (Mbps) 5G tops out at 10 gigabits per second (Gbps). That means 5G is a hundred times faster than the current 4G technology at its theoretical maximum speed. The Consumer Technology Association has said that at this speed a two-hour movie can be downloaded in just 3.6 seconds on 5G versus six minutes on 4G or 26 hours on 3G. A report by Ericsson says 5G has the potential to create new opportunities worth 600 million for 5G players in Bahrain. On the acquisition of Bahraini Internet service provider Menatelecom completed earlier this year the chief executive said the acquisition will significantly enhance VIVA s position in both the consumer broadband and enterprise markets. It will help us complement our offering by leveraging the strong capabilities of Menatelecom in the broadband segment. In addition it will allow VIVA to enhance key technical capabilities and foster further product and service innovation he added. Mr Al Wetaid said Menatelecom would continue as a separate entity for now. Significant investments are being made to develop its infrastructure and for network expansions to provide better services to Menatelecom customers he said. The projects are characterised by a high level of quality of services speeds introduced and product diversification. Customers at MenaTelecom have seen a major improvement in experience. avinash@gdn.com.bh

MANAMA: VIVA Bahrain has introduced new digital services like Self Service Machines (SSMs) and a smart queue management service in a bid to offer an enhanced customer experience. The telecom operator said in a statement that the new services enable customers to complete multiple service requests in just a few clicks anywhere and at any time. The new VIVA SSMs introduced at all VIVA outlets are a digital channel that give customers the flexibility to login and access specialised services. Furthermore they will also have the option of making multi- and other-payments on SSMs as also with QuickPay and use the services to purchase and manage add-ons as well as buy prepaid vouchers do international credit transfers and get SIM card replacement. Another new digital offering is the new smart queue management service within the VIVA Bahrain mobile application that allows customers to book a priority queue ticket at any of the 18 outlets. The new service powered by VIVA partner Skiplino allows VIVA customers to join a queue ahead of their arrival at the branch keeps them updated on the estimated time to reach the branch the status of the queue and which desk will be servicing them. In case of any delays this service allows VIVA customers to update their status through the app and hold their spot for an extra 10 minutes. Customers can even rate and submit instant feedback about their experience. VIVA Bahrain chief executive Ulaiyan Al Wetaid emphasised the efforts being invested by the company in digitising its service experience and making it more relevant to the needs of today s online digitally-savvy customers. Keeping up with technological changes and adhering to evolving customer requirements is a top priority for us at VIVA enabling us to introduce digital services that are fast easy-to-use and accessible 24/7 he added. The telecom operator has also enhanced its VIVA Mobile App with new navigation design and additional menu features to assist customers with bill payment and cycle balance transfer data usage and benefits VIVA Rewards AutoPay for Postpaid plans as well as auto recharge for prepaid plans. Through the VIVA App customers can also book a visit to the VIVA store with Skiplino and manage bulk payment options including the option to link credit cards.

MANAMA: VIVA Bahrain has partnered with FutureTec a leading IT solutions provider to expand the portfolio of ICT services hosted locally at the VIVA DataCentre in Bahrain to include cloud computing and cloud security services for businesses. Government customers and enterprises of all sizes can remain competitive and relevant as Bahrain becomes increasingly digital through VIVA s latest affordable reliable and scalable cloud-based services powered by FutureTec. The new offerings are designed to enable VIVA Business customers to seize huge growth opportunities by improving operational efficiencies and lowering infrastructure costs. They also serve greater support for future innovations and provide the technical foundation required to deploy next-generation technologies. We at VIVA Bahrain have a thorough understanding of where the future of ICT is going and making that shift to cloud-based services is a significant part of the journey for businesses. By offering secure and efficient services like this thus reducing the need for IT infrastructure CAPEX and expensive IT operational expenses we re allowing VIVA Business customers to focus on bigger goals and trust us with their IT systems management VIVA Bahrain chief executive Ulaiyan Al Wetaid said. Hosted in Bahrain VIVA will launch various cloud computing services such as Infrastructure as a Services (IaaS) virtual servers Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Backup as a Service (BaaS) Internet Security and Email Security as a Service which are powered by leading technology providers such as Nutanix and Fortinet. FutureTec CEO and founder Feras Al Oqlah said: We believe it is the right time to position our services in an era that is upon us our cloud services is a trusted service that increases business velocity improves productivity and efficiency while reducing cost time and risk. We are certain that moving into cloud will speed up the overall process of acquiring and adding new resources on demand to fully serve the business and ensure its continuity.

Through this network deployment VIVA Bahrain will support the growing demand of its wholesale and enterprise customers across the GCC and other international markets with high-quality networking services IP capacity voice and signalling coupled with lowest possible latency said a statement from the company. VIVA s investment into the new POPs has been spurred by rapidly increasing requirements of its business customers in Bahrain with presence across the region and globally looking for high-quality network performance a diverse range of services that are secure reliable flexible and cost-effective and support their business needs. With the POPs deployment in London and Frankfurt considered major financial hubs and busiest centres for Internet traffic in the world VIVA customers will have access to direct and reliable connectivity through its key partnerships with tier-1 regional and global network carriers. They will experience an unparalleled combination of low latency world-class service and latest technology that is currently unavailable with other telecom operators VIVA Bahrain said. The POPs expansion is a significant and strategic addition to VIVA s global infrastructure to cater to the heightened demand for optimal connectivity services with high capacities and low latency for companies doing business in the European market said VIVA Bahrain chief executive Ulaiyan Al Wetaid. With this we will be ensuring our comprehensive suite of network solutions at affordable and competitive offers that are readily available to our existing and growing business customer base to provide them with an enhanced level of service and customer experience. With a focus on expanding our presence across other regions we will continue with our ongoing investment in strengthening the overall infrastructure to meet global needs of our business customers across Bahrain and international markets Mr Al Wetaid added.

MANAMA: Live streaming of 4K video self-driving cars and remote surgeries using robotics are just some of the possible future applications of 5G or 5th generation mobile connectivity which will be available in Bahrain in the first quarter next year it has emerged. VIVA Bahrain chief executive Ulaiyan Al Wetaid told the GDN on the sidelines of the launch of the kingdom s first live and public 5G network demonstration at City Centre Bahrain s Central Galleria that Bahrain s youngest licensed mobile operator was leading the way in the roll-out of the new technology with work already in progress at many sites around the country. VIVA Bahrain has been building the infrastructure for the launch of 5G and this (the showcase) is our first public site showing we will be proactive in providing the service he said. We expect to launch the service commercially early next year and it will contribute in increasing the speed and performance of wireless networks. VIVA Bahrain has already started its 5G deployment and the demonstration stand is the first site for 5G. The demo now open to the public is a showcase of the life-changing speeds and capabilities of 5G for homes and businesses with a number of 5G-enabled devices available for public trials such as 4K UHD TV and virtual reality (VR) goggles.

MANAMA: VIVA Bahrain will be geared up for fifth generation or 5G telecom services by the year-end or early next year when the kingdom s telecom regulator makes spectrum available according to the company s chief executive Ulaiyan Al Wetaid. On the sidelines of VIVA Bahrain s Ramadan media ghabga at the Ritz-Carlton he told the GDN that 5G services are considered a significant leap forward in customer experience. VIVA Bahrain has started the testing process on the fifth generation technologies and the company will be proactive in providing the service. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has a plan to offer the frequencies required to provide the fifth generation services to operators as part of the National Telecommunications Plan and that the necessary frequencies will be made available by the end of this year or early 2019 to provide the services in Bahrain he said. The provision of the fifth generation services will be in multiple stages he said. Since the beginning of 2018 the company has begun to develop the appropriate technologies to provide the fifth generation services and to be pioneers in information and communication technology. According to a report on Howtogeek.com while 4G tops out at a theoretical 100 megabits per second (Mbps) 5G tops out at 10 gigabits per second (Gbps). That means 5G is a hundred times faster than the current 4G technology at its theoretical maximum speed. The Consumer Technology Association has said that at this speed a two-hour movie can be downloaded in just 3.6 seconds on 5G versus six minutes on 4G or 26 hours on 3G. A report by Ericsson says 5G has the potential to create new opportunities worth 600 million for 5G players in Bahrain. On the acquisition of Bahraini Internet service provider Menatelecom completed earlier this year the chief executive said the acquisition will significantly enhance VIVA s position in both the consumer broadband and enterprise markets. It will help us complement our offering by leveraging the strong capabilities of Menatelecom in the broadband segment. In addition it will allow VIVA to enhance key technical capabilities and foster further product and service innovation he added. Mr Al Wetaid said Menatelecom would continue as a separate entity for now. Significant investments are being made to develop its infrastructure and for network expansions to provide better services to Menatelecom customers he said. The projects are characterised by a high level of quality of services speeds introduced and product diversification. Customers at MenaTelecom have seen a major improvement in experience. avinash@gdn.com.bh

MANAMA: VIVA Bahrain has introduced new digital services like Self Service Machines (SSMs) and a smart queue management service in a bid to offer an enhanced customer experience. The telecom operator said in a statement that the new services enable customers to complete multiple service requests in just a few clicks anywhere and at any time. The new VIVA SSMs introduced at all VIVA outlets are a digital channel that give customers the flexibility to login and access specialised services. Furthermore they will also have the option of making multi- and other-payments on SSMs as also with QuickPay and use the services to purchase and manage add-ons as well as buy prepaid vouchers do international credit transfers and get SIM card replacement. Another new digital offering is the new smart queue management service within the VIVA Bahrain mobile application that allows customers to book a priority queue ticket at any of the 18 outlets. The new service powered by VIVA partner Skiplino allows VIVA customers to join a queue ahead of their arrival at the branch keeps them updated on the estimated time to reach the branch the status of the queue and which desk will be servicing them. In case of any delays this service allows VIVA customers to update their status through the app and hold their spot for an extra 10 minutes. Customers can even rate and submit instant feedback about their experience. VIVA Bahrain chief executive Ulaiyan Al Wetaid emphasised the efforts being invested by the company in digitising its service experience and making it more relevant to the needs of today s online digitally-savvy customers. Keeping up with technological changes and adhering to evolving customer requirements is a top priority for us at VIVA enabling us to introduce digital services that are fast easy-to-use and accessible 24/7 he added. The telecom operator has also enhanced its VIVA Mobile App with new navigation design and additional menu features to assist customers with bill payment and cycle balance transfer data usage and benefits VIVA Rewards AutoPay for Postpaid plans as well as auto recharge for prepaid plans. Through the VIVA App customers can also book a visit to the VIVA store with Skiplino and manage bulk payment options including the option to link credit cards.

MANAMA: VIVA Bahrain has partnered with FutureTec a leading IT solutions provider to expand the portfolio of ICT services hosted locally at the VIVA DataCentre in Bahrain to include cloud computing and cloud security services for businesses. Government customers and enterprises of all sizes can remain competitive and relevant as Bahrain becomes increasingly digital through VIVA s latest affordable reliable and scalable cloud-based services powered by FutureTec. The new offerings are designed to enable VIVA Business customers to seize huge growth opportunities by improving operational efficiencies and lowering infrastructure costs. They also serve greater support for future innovations and provide the technical foundation required to deploy next-generation technologies. We at VIVA Bahrain have a thorough understanding of where the future of ICT is going and making that shift to cloud-based services is a significant part of the journey for businesses. By offering secure and efficient services like this thus reducing the need for IT infrastructure CAPEX and expensive IT operational expenses we re allowing VIVA Business customers to focus on bigger goals and trust us with their IT systems management VIVA Bahrain chief executive Ulaiyan Al Wetaid said. Hosted in Bahrain VIVA will launch various cloud computing services such as Infrastructure as a Services (IaaS) virtual servers Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Backup as a Service (BaaS) Internet Security and Email Security as a Service which are powered by leading technology providers such as Nutanix and Fortinet. FutureTec CEO and founder Feras Al Oqlah said: We believe it is the right time to position our services in an era that is upon us our cloud services is a trusted service that increases business velocity improves productivity and efficiency while reducing cost time and risk. We are certain that moving into cloud will speed up the overall process of acquiring and adding new resources on demand to fully serve the business and ensure its continuity.