Download speeds on 5G networks in Bahrain have soared to an impressive peak of 3.2 Gbps, according to the kingdom’s telecom regulator. This breakthrough enables consumers to experience lightning-fast connections like never before. It’s worth noting that this speed is more than double the initial peak speed of 1.5 Gbps that operators offered when 5G was first launched in the kingdom back in 2019.
Experts explain that typical download speeds on the most common type of 5G network, known as Sub-6 GHz networks, range from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps. The advantages of 5G networks are immense, allowing users to download a full HD movie in a matter of seconds, stream multiple 4K videos simultaneously, play online games without any annoying lag, delve into the immersive realms of virtual reality and augmented reality applications, and stay connected to the Internet from virtually anywhere.
The recently released Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) 2022 report on the Quality of Service (QoS) offered by mobile networks in Bahrain sheds light on this groundbreaking data. The report highlights the remarkable progress made in 5G technology by all three Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), who now provide coverage to the entire population.
Another noteworthy finding from the report indicates that average download speeds on 4G networks have more than doubled since 2020, surging from 85 Mbps to 266 Mbps in 2022.
The TRA’s QoS audit examined various aspects of the user experience, including download and upload speeds, latency, social networking app performance, and webpage browsing. The report underscores the mobile network progress achieved through 5G technology by all three MNOs, ensuring comprehensive coverage across the entire population.
Aiming to provide an accurate assessment of Bahrain’s mobile network performance and user experience, the comprehensive evaluation was conducted by the international consulting firm Directique. Their test methodology was designed to gather an authentic qualitative record from the end users’ perspective.
The report emphasises the remarkable progress made in 5G technology by all three MNOs, ensuring comprehensive coverage across the entire population. Each operator provided a list of cell sites where network settings were optimised to deliver higher data performance compared to randomly tested locations.
The results revealed that the operators have deployed Enhanced Technologies (ET) at specific areas in Bahrain, resulting in significantly higher speeds. The average throughput on these Enhanced Technologies cell sites was more than twice as high as that in random locations. The report also found that all three networks maintained an “excellent” level of voice service, with a 100% average setup and held call rate and an improved call quality rating of 0.4 points compared to 2018.
Regarding messaging services, all networks provided a “very good” SMS service, ensuring message delivery within two minutes. Impressively, 100% of messages were received within 15 seconds, 100% within 10 seconds, and 99.9% within 5 seconds.
Introduced two years ago, the last indicator has consistently shown improvement. The average observed SMS reception delay was an impressive 0.4 seconds, marking the best performance since 2010.
Philip Marnick, the general director of the TRA, expressed the importance of good mobile quality of service and the continuous improvements witnessed in Bahrain’s mobile networks. He emphasised that the TRA’s mobile audit is a comprehensive review of network performance, ensuring the results accurately reflect the real-world performance of the networks and services. Marnick attributed the increase in quality of service to the growing availability and use of 5G technology, as well as the collaborative efforts among the TRA, mobile network operators, and other stakeholders throughout Bahrain’s telecommunications industry.
