Bahrain’s state-owned telecommunications company, Batelco has slashed its prices on international phone calls to 70 countries by amounts of up to 190 fils per minute. Some of the cuts are for popular calling-destinations such as the UK, USA, CANADA, Philippines, Iran and India. For example, 160 fils have been slashed off the price of calling Iran at the former peak rate.
Peak-rate calls to the US, Canada and the UK are now 100 fils-per-minute cheaper, with 120 fils being cut from the off-peak rate. The price of calling the Philippines has been cut by 90 fils on the former peak-rate.
A major benefit for callers to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iran and the Philippines is that they no longer have to worry about peak and off-peak times. They can now make their calls at any time of the day or night at just one rate.
Batelco has attributed its ability to make the cuts to its negotiations with counterpart telecommunication operators in other countries. Batelco's Chairman Shaikh Ali Bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa said: “Today's announcement signals the seventh such international call price-cut in six years and offers proof that Batelco is serious about forcing down prices at every opportunity.”
Last year, Batelco invested 40 million Bahraini dinars into Bahrain's communications infrastructure and is on track to invest a similar sum this year, according to a company press release. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
