Bahrain recorded 150 mobile subscriptions for every 100 people by the second quarter of 2025, while broadband penetration reached 163 subscriptions per 100 people, highlighting the high level of connectivity across the Kingdom.
Figures disclosed in the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority’s audited accounts show mobile subscriptions reached 2.387 million, up 2% from the end of 2024.
Broadband subscriptions stood even higher at 2.595 million, equivalent to 163 subscriptions for every 100 people.
Fibre reaches around 63% of households
Bahrain also continued to record significant adoption of fibre broadband.
The number of fibre subscriptions stood at approximately 182,000, equivalent to 63% of households.
Among fibre subscribers, 86% were using packages offering speeds of at least 100Mbps, indicating that fibre adoption is increasingly translating into higher-speed connectivity rather than simply network availability.
The figures provide another indicator of the maturity of Bahrain's fixed broadband market, alongside the country's high overall broadband subscription rate.
Broadband traffic approaches 2 billion GB
The growth of connectivity is also reflected in data consumption.
Broadband data usage reached 1.971 billion gigabytes in 2024.
Fixed-network data consumption increased by 7%, while mobile data usage rose by a stronger 15%.
The faster growth in mobile consumption comes alongside a market where the number of mobile subscriptions already substantially exceeds the country's population.
A rate of 150 subscriptions per 100 people does not mean 150% of individuals have a mobile subscription, as customers can maintain multiple SIMs or connections.
TRA operating revenue reaches BD21.156 million
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority reported operating revenue of BD21.156 million, which was broadly unchanged.
Operating costs, however, increased 7.5% to BD7.125 million, reducing the operating surplus to BD14.031 million.
The regulator's overall surplus declined 3.4% from BD15.946 million in 2024 to BD15.402 million.
The authority transferred approximately BD15.95 million to Bahrain's Ministry of Finance and National Economy.
Licence and spectrum fees dominate regulatory revenue
Annual telecommunications licence fees remained the TRA's largest source of operating revenue at BD8.433 million, representing 39.9% of operating income.
Spectrum availability fees generated another BD5.289 million.
Frequency and spectrum-band charges declined 7.5% to BD3.541 million.
Together, these three revenue sources accounted for 81.6% of the regulator's operating revenue, demonstrating the importance of telecom licensing and spectrum-related charges to the authority's financial position.
Costs rise as TRA increases doubtful debt provision
Staff expenditure remained the authority's largest cost at BD4.023 million.
Consultancy and legal expenses increased 25.5% to BD738,000.
The regulator also recorded a BD568,000 provision for doubtful debts, compared with no equivalent charge in 2024. The provision accounted for much of the approximately BD500,000 increase in operating expenses.
Non-operating income declined 2.3% to BD1.371 million, including BD1.254 million generated by changes in the fair value of investments.
Investments themselves increased 28.2%, from BD22.173 million to BD28.427 million.
Total assets, however, declined 9.7% to BD37.483 million, while total liabilities fell 13.6% to BD22.081 million. Deferred revenue accounted for BD20.807 million of those liabilities.
Source: MEA Tech Watch Press Reporter
