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Digital Divide Country Profile · Asia

BH

Bahrain

Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.

Location in the world

Bahrain

Flag of Bahrain

Asia

World map showing the location of BahrainBahrain
🇧🇭
Population (2024)
1,588,670
Total area
760 km²
Area in square miles
293.44 mi²
Coastline
161 km
Base map adapted from Wikimedia Commons. Population: World Bank (2024); geography: CIA World Factbook.

National digital inclusion context

A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.

This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to Bahrain in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.

The documented portfolio emphasizes Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure, Data Center / Cloud Infrastructure, Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding, Fiber/Fiber Optic, FTTH. The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.

Portfolio pattern

What the documented response contains.

Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.

Infrastructure and access

  1. Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure9
  2. Data Center / Cloud Infrastructure2
  3. Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding2
  4. Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure2
  5. Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure2

Specific technologies

  1. Fiber/Fiber Optic9
  2. FTTH3
  3. 5G2
  4. Cloud Computing2
  5. Digital Identity / e-ID2

Intervention classification

  1. Infrastructure and Specific Technology15
  2. Neither explicitly identified6
  3. Specific Technology only3
  4. Infrastructure only1

Education and workforce

Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.

4 initiatives explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 3 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.

Access

Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.

Capability

Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.

Participation

Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.

Sustainability

Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.

Project and initiative portfolio

25 documented records

Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.

01

Industrial/private 5G

5G and IoT Private-Network Enablement

Strategy work 2025 · Energy, utilities and critical sectors
View details
Status / periodStrategy work 2025LocationEnergy, utilities and critical sectorsPopulationWorkers and users of critical infrastructureOrganizationsTRA Spectrum Strategy and Coordination Committee

Prepares policy for private 5G/IoT networks supporting automation and reliable sector connectivity.

Activities and approach: Private 5G; IoT; spectrum policy

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5GInternet of Things (IoT)
Workforce
02

Future mobile/satellite connectivity

6G and Advanced Satellite Spectrum Preparation

Strategy work 2025–2027 · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodStrategy work 2025–2027LocationNationwidePopulationFuture consumers, businesses and satellite usersOrganizationsTRA Spectrum Strategy and Coordination Committee

Prepares spectrum positions for future 6G and advanced satellite broadband without constraining current services.

Activities and approach: 6G/satellite spectrum planning

Satellite InfrastructureInfrastructure Planning / Mapping / FundingSatellite Broadband
03

Fiber gap closure

BNET Amwaj Fiber Extension

Ongoing extension · Amwaj Islands
View details
Status / periodOngoing extensionLocationAmwaj IslandsPopulationHouseholds and businesses in the one area temporarily outside BNET universal coverageOrganizationsTRA Bahrain; BNET

Closes the remaining geographic exception in Bahrain’s universal national fiber footprint.

Activities and approach: FTTH fiber extension

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureFTTHFiber/Fiber Optic
04

Business fiber availability

BNET Business 30-Day Fiber Service-Level Requirement

Effective 2024 · Nationwide business premises in BNET areas
View details
Status / periodEffective 2024LocationNationwide business premises in BNET areasPopulationBusinesses requesting fiberOrganizationsTRA Bahrain; BNET

Creates a measurable maximum deployment timeframe for business broadband access.

Activities and approach: Business fiber deployment SLA

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
05

National wholesale fiber network

BNET National Broadband Network

2018–ongoing · Nationwide
View details
Status / period2018–ongoingLocationNationwidePopulationHouseholds and businessesOrganizationsBNET; TRA; licensed operators

Single national fixed-fiber network designed to improve service quality, lower prices and enable broad competitive retail access.

Activities and approach: National fiber network; wholesale open access

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureInfrastructure Planning / Mapping / FundingFiber/Fiber Optic
06

Last-mile fiber availability

BNET Residential 10-Day Fiber Service-Level Requirement

Effective 2024 · All occupiable residential properties in covered areas
View details
Status / periodEffective 2024LocationAll occupiable residential properties in covered areasPopulationHouseholds requesting fiberOrganizationsTRA Bahrain; BNET

Turns universal fiber policy into a measurable last-mile service requirement.

Activities and approach: FTTH deployment SLA

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureLast-Mile / Access InfrastructureFTTHFiber/Fiber Optic
07

Wholesale broadband infrastructure

BNET Wholesale Bitstream Service Upgrade Decision

Decision Jan 2025 · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodDecision Jan 2025LocationNationwidePopulationISPs and downstream consumersOrganizationsTRA; BNET

Modernizes wholesale service terms supporting higher-speed retail fiber offers.

Activities and approach: Wholesale bitstream service

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureTelecommunications / Broadband InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
08

Broadband speed/affordability

BNET Wholesale Fiber Speed Upgrade

Effective Jan 2025 · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodEffective Jan 2025LocationNationwidePopulationResidential and business fiber usersOrganizationsTRA; BNET; ISPs

More than doubles fiber service speeds without additional consumer cost.

Activities and approach: Wholesale bitstream upgrade

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
09

School broadband and digital education

Digital Empowerment in Education Project – School Internet Access

Ongoing · All public and private schools
View details
Status / periodOngoingLocationAll public and private schoolsPopulationTeachers and studentsOrganizationsGovernment of Bahrain; Ministry of Education

Ensures Internet access for teachers and students in schools as part of national digital empowerment in education.

Activities and approach: School Internet; digital learning platforms

Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure
EducationK–12
10

Free public Internet access

Free Public Wi-Fi Access Initiative

Ongoing · Transport, government, healthcare and commercial public locations
View details
Status / periodOngoingLocationTransport, government, healthcare and commercial public locationsPopulationCitizens, residents and visitorsOrganizationsGovernment of Bahrain; public/private site operators

Provides free public Wi-Fi to support digital inclusion and access to online services for people without convenient private access.

Activities and approach: Public Wi-Fi hotspots

Public Wi-Fi / Community Network InfrastructureWi-Fi
11

Digital service simplification

Government Apps Consolidation into Three Core Apps

Ongoing 2025 · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodOngoing 2025LocationNationwidePopulationIndividuals, businesses and visitorsOrganizationsiGA

Reduces fragmentation by merging many government apps into MyGov, AlTajer and Bahrain visitor channels.

Activities and approach: App consolidation

12

Government cloud infrastructure

Government Cloud First Policy

Ongoing · Government entities
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Status / periodOngoingLocationGovernment entitiesPopulationCitizens and public agenciesOrganizationsBahrain iGA; government entities

Moves public-sector systems to cloud infrastructure to improve scalable and reliable digital service delivery.

Activities and approach: Cloud computing

Data Center / Cloud InfrastructureCloud Computing
13

Public-sector digital skills

Government Cloud Skills Programme – 800 Employees / 75 Entities

Completed 2024; reported 2025 · 75 government and semi-government entities
View details
Status / periodCompleted 2024; reported 2025Location75 government and semi-government entitiesPopulationMore than 800 government employeesOrganizationsBahrain iGA; Microsoft

Builds cloud capability across government so digital infrastructure can be operated effectively.

Activities and approach: Cloud training

Data Center / Cloud InfrastructureTelecommunications / Broadband InfrastructureCloud Computing
EducationWorkforce
14

Digital trust / interoperability

Government KYC Data-Sharing Platform Initiative

Ongoing/emerging technology initiative · Financial and government ecosystem
View details
Status / periodOngoing/emerging technology initiativeLocationFinancial and government ecosystemPopulationResidents and financial-service usersOrganizationsBahrain iGA; financial sector

Enables secure, consent-based sharing of verified KYC data, reducing friction in digital financial access.

Activities and approach: Authenticated data-sharing / blockchain-enabled platform

Blockchain
15

Digital civil-registration services

MyGov Birth Certificate Digital Services

Launched Mar 2025 · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodLaunched Mar 2025LocationNationwidePopulationFamilies and residentsOrganizationsiGA

Moves birth-certificate services into the unified mobile channel.

Activities and approach: Digital civil-registration services

16

Digital identity services

MyGov Digital ID Card Services

Launched Mar 2025 · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodLaunched Mar 2025LocationNationwidePopulationCitizens and residentsOrganizationsiGA

Allows users to access ID-card transactions through the unified app.

Activities and approach: Mobile ID-card services

Digital Identity / e-ID
17

Digital public services

MyGov Unified Citizen App

Launched Feb 2025 · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodLaunched Feb 2025LocationNationwidePopulationCitizens and residentsOrganizationsiGA

Consolidates government services into one mobile channel, lowering navigation and access barriers.

Activities and approach: Unified mobile government app

18

Inclusive digital-service design

MyGov/eKey User Experience Co-Design Programme

2025 · Nationwide
View details
Status / period2025LocationNationwidePopulationUsers from varied backgroundsOrganizationsiGA

Uses focus groups to improve accessibility and usability of major government apps.

Activities and approach: User research/co-design

19

5G mobile broadband

Nationwide 5G Coverage

Operational · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodOperationalLocationNationwidePopulationMobile users and businessesOrganizationsMobile operators; TRA Bahrain

Provides nationwide high-capacity mobile broadband as a complement to fiber access.

Activities and approach: 5G mobile network

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureMobile / Wireless InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic5G
20

Digital literacy

Qudurat Citizen Digital Literacy Programme

Ongoing; launched 2009 · Nationwide / partner community organizations
View details
Status / periodOngoing; launched 2009LocationNationwide / partner community organizationsPopulationCitizens with low computer literacy, including retirees, women and visually impaired usersOrganizationsiGA; ministries; NGOs

Provides free computer-literacy classes and encourages use of online government services.

Activities and approach: Free digital-literacy training

Computer / Desktop PC
Education
21

Digital identity/DPI

Revamped eKey 2.0 National Digital Identity

Launched Feb 2025 · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodLaunched Feb 2025LocationNationwidePopulationCitizens and residentsOrganizationsiGA

Provides secure authentication for digital services, reducing dependence on in-person transactions.

Activities and approach: Mobile digital identity

Digital Public InfrastructureDigital Identity / e-ID
22

Digital public-service access

Tawasul National Suggestions and Complaints System

Operational · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodOperationalLocationNationwidePopulationCitizens and residentsOrganizationsBahrain iGA; government entities

Provides an always-available online channel to interact with government entities without physical travel.

Activities and approach: Online government engagement platform

23

Advanced ICT workforce skills

Technical Development Program (TTDP) – Third Cohort

2025–2026 · Nationwide
View details
Status / period2025–2026LocationNationwidePopulation80 Bahraini ICT graduates seeking employmentOrganizationsBahrain iGA; Ministry of Labour

Provides one-year on-the-job technical training to improve access to ICT employment.

Activities and approach: Technical/on-job training

EducationWorkforce
24

Universal fiber coverage requirement

Universal Fiber Availability Requirement for BNET

2024–ongoing · All occupiable residential properties except temporary exclusion areas
View details
Status / period2024–ongoingLocationAll occupiable residential properties except temporary exclusion areasPopulationHouseholds and businessesOrganizationsTRA Bahrain; BNET

Requires fiber to be made available on request across Bahrain, explicitly supporting access regardless of location.

Activities and approach: FTTH expansion; deployment service-level requirement

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureFTTHFiber/Fiber Optic
25

Broadband affordability and quality

Wholesale Fiber Speed Upgrade Initiative

2025 · Nationwide
View details
Status / period2025LocationNationwidePopulationResidential and business broadband usersOrganizationsTRA Bahrain; BNET; ISPs

Wholesale pricing changes allow fiber speeds to more than double without additional consumer cost, improving meaningful and affordable connectivity.

Activities and approach: Wholesale fiber pricing; speed upgrades

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic

Evidence boundary

Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.

Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.

Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.

Evidence and contextProfile Sources

These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.

  1. Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Bahrain. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/bahrain/
  2. International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
  3. World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): Bahrain. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=BH
  4. World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: Bahrain. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=BH

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