trends – BIS

Forms of Emerging Technologies in Bahrain

bis_admin — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 06:37:05 +0000

The Kingdom of Bahrain is emerging as a regional leader in digital transformation. The Kingdom has well-recognized the importance of technology to reinforce its economic growth, jobs creation, and human development to provide a better life for all. Bahrain has been an early adopter of implementing reforms to support technology-driven businesses and empower them to drive the economy while the government takes a regulatory role and governance. Bahrain was the first country in the Arab Gulf region to liberalize its telecom sector. Today, Bahrain is leading the region with its well-established information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure. Bahrain ranks 1st in the Arab region in information and communications technology (ICT) Development Index (IDI) as per International Telecommunication Union (ITU) report and ranks 4th globally in Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII) as per United Nation eGovernment Development Index (iGA), Economic Development Board by United Nation eGovernment Report. The country is ready for adopting new and emerging technologies as the percentage of individuals using the internet in Bahrain has reached 98%.

All of this information and communications technology (ICT) achievements have made Bahrain be in the lead in information and communications technology (ICT) development and a fresh-ground for innovations and technologies. The National Digital Strategy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, which will be released soon, will set the directions on how to take advantage of the emerging technologies to streamline service delivery in Bahrain and take the Kingdom towards a better life for all.

Internet of Things (IoT)

bis_admin — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 06:43:00 +0000

Kingdom of Bahrain was the first in the GCC to issue standards for IoT connectivity. Bahrain supports the use of the frequency band for IoT (NB-IoT) systems within the international mobile communications systems. Bahrain is among a few Middle East countries to contribute to International Telecommunication Union to propose a new working document to harmonize the use of IMT spectrum for the narrowband Internet of things applications.

Information & eGovernment Authority has provided government entities with the required frequency bands that will contribute to the Kingdom’s Digital Transformation journey and support achieving 2030 Kingdom’s vision for smart cities, IoT & M2M communication.

Cellular networks, technologies, and platforms play a vital role in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications, network infrastructure foundation in Bahrain. Bahrain has ensured that its Wireless and Fiber were arranged to support the Fifth-Generation network (5G) and reformed its frequency bands to accommodate the 5G networks.

Bahrain is expected to offer commercial services for the 5G network in 2019 that is needed for the transmission speed & device connectivity to support the massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC).

Cloud Computing

bis_admin — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 06:53:55 +0000

After implementing thorough feasibility studies, the Kingdom of Bahrain has taken serious steps to adopt Cloud technology in the public sector in Bahrain to increase efficiency and effectiveness, and dramatically reduce operational cost at the same time especially in the light of the government directions towards fiscal-balance and IT expenditure optimization.

The Kingdom of Bahrain has launched its unique policy “Cloud-First” that gives a clear road map and guidance for adopting cloud technology at the public sector levels to maintain all measures, including information security. Under the policy, government and public agencies will be obliged to consider and study the adoption of Cloud Computing solutions as an integral part of their IT plans and processes.

All government entities in Bahrain need to evaluate cloud solutions first when undertaking ICT procurements takes all measures such as the appropriate ICT delivery model, information security, fitment of purpose, cost-benefit analysis and achieving value for money over the life of the investment.

The Kingdom of Bahrain has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2017 to be the official Cloud infrastructure provider for the public sector in Bahrain. To date, more than 40 government systems and services have been successfully migrated to the cloud on, AWS data centres.

In regards to equipping the workforce with the skills and knowledge needed during the transformation to cloud, iGA and Tamkeen have put together a full capacity building and AWS certification program fully funded by Tamkeen to bridge the gaps and support building cloud-ready workforce.

About Amazon Web Services (AWS)

In 2017, the Economic Development Board (EDB) succeeded in attracting Amazon Web Services (AWS), which in turn announced plans to open an “infrastructure area” in the Middle East. Cloud computing is the next major direction in IT operations for all.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) estimates that 10,000 data solution architects will be needed across the region in the next five years, with over 2,300 young Bahrainis signing up for Amazon Web Services (AWS) Educate program.