Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has recently produced an extensive Public Radio communications Stations Regulation which covers the planning, design, installation upgrading and maintenance of masts and towers in the country. We spoke with Mohamed Abdulla Ramzan Alnoaimi, Director of Technical & Operations at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to find out more about the motivation behind the new framework and how the TRA anticipates it will change the telecoms infrastructure landscape in the country.
TowerXchange: The new regulation is very detailed but can you share an overview of the scope of the document and what it means for tower owners in Bahrain?
Mohamed Abdulla Ramzan Alnoaimi, Director, Technical & Operations, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority:
The Public Radio communications Stations Regulation (“PRS Regulation”) aims at achieving a comprehensive regulatory framework including a permitting system that allows for the planning, designing, installation, upgrading and maintaining of PRSs (masts and towers). The regulation provides unified policies and procedures to enable the deployment of PRSs by operators with the Authority working as a single point of contact between telecommunications operators, the public and relevant bodies. The PRS Regulation will apply to all works of installing, upgrading or maintaining of new PRSs as well as to existing PRS that don’t comply with the provisions of the Regulation.
TowerXchange: As much as 90% of the tower stock will need to be rectified – what are the major changes which will need to be made and how involved with the TRA be in specifying which new solutions and structures are used?
Mohamed Abdulla Ramzan Alnoaimi, Director, Technical & Operations, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority:
The rectification process of existing PRSs (mast and towers), as specified by PRS Regulation, is intended to reasonably address the requirements and concerns of the various stakeholders within the telecommunications sector, including those of residents, relevant bodies and operators. The aim is to ensure that the proposed solutions and outcomes of the process balance the needs and expectations of all relevant parties involved.
As the cost of rectifying existing PRSs is tremendously high the rectification will take place over a span of 15 years. In order to assist in reducing the cost, the Authority has issued a zoning map classifying Bahrain into six different zones with only certain types of PRSs applicable in each zone with emphasis on shared use of such PRSs.
TowerXchange: Much of the aim of the regulation is to minimise the impact of towers on the environment – do you have requirements in terms of the power sources used for the towers? And is power back up and resilience a part of the document?
Mohamed Abdulla Ramzan Alnoaimi, Director, Technical & Operations, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority:
The PRS Regulation is neutral with respect to the type of technical solutions but within permitting processes it has enabled and facilitated the connection to national power grids in addition to other power supply such as generators and solar energy.
TowerXchange: What’s the new regulatory stance towards tower sharing in Bahrain? What do you see being the main areas for regulation in terms of infrastructure sharing and what would the aim of your regulations be?
Mohamed Abdulla Ramzan Alnoaimi, Director, Technical & Operations, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority:
The PRS Regulation requires operators to make reasonable efforts to ensure the sharing of existing and new PRSs in order to optimise the use of stations and avoid replication of networks. The PRS Regulation along with Schedule of Fees Regulation establishes incentives to encourage operators to share their stations. The authority aims at increasing the sharing percentage to around 40% of macro sites from a current sharing percentage of 12%.
TowerXchange: Would you plan to regulate differently in case of an independent third party entering the tower market versus sharing between operators, or would a blanket rule apply?
Mohamed Abdulla Ramzan Alnoaimi, Director, Technical & Operations, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority:
Currently there are three operators who are licenced to deploy masts and towers in Bahrain. As a result there are three different mast and towers networks, i.e. one for each operator. The Authority considers there is room for improvement by merging these different networks into one or at least two. This could be done either by introducing tower company, a joint venture between existing operators or other feasible business models.
TowerXchange: Can you share your plans for the rollout of 5G infrastructure? Do you specify how small cells and street furniture must be used?
Mohamed Abdulla Ramzan Alnoaimi, Director, Technical & Operations, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority:
The PRS Regulation predicts considerable increase in the number of small cells, in the near future, to ensure effective delivery of 5G services. Accordingly it has introduced clear processes and incentives to enable and encourage operators in deploying increased small cells and street furniture. This will undoubtedly contribute into the environmental responsibilities as well as efficient 5G services delivery by operators.
TowerXchange: Are you speaking to other regulators in the region about their plans? Where are you looking for information and guidance about how best to regulate this system?
Mohamed Abdulla Ramzan Alnoaimi, Director, Technical & Operations, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority:
The Authority had some communication with other regional regulators during the development of PRS Regulation, but undoubtedly the new approach adopted by the Regulation is unique and has placed the Authority in a pioneering position with respect to the permitting of deploying masts and towers.
