BNET, the newly-created independent service provider in Bahrain responsible for the country’s planned national next generation broadband network, will use BearingPoint//Beyond’s Infonova BSS solution as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) built on Amazon Web Services (AWS), to power the BSS and OSS systems for its forthcoming nationwide fiber broadband network.

 

BNET was launched in October as a completely new and independent wholesale broadband provider by Batelco, Bahrain’s largest telecoms operator. BNET’s purpose is to provide next generation wholesale fiber broadband connectivity to all licensed telecom operators and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Bahrain – including Batelco itself. It will also provide broadband services to large enterprise customers in the kingdom.

 

BNET chose BearingPoint//Beyond’s solution as the enablement platform for its wholesale business thanks to the truly cloud-native, SaaS delivery model, built on AWS, which allows BNET to focus squarely on its business. Importantly, with Infonova BSS, BNET is able to meet its fast approaching go live date scheduled for May.

 

The AWS cloud-hosted SaaS model will reduce BNET’s Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and provides valuable auto-scaling capabilities and rapid agile delivery that can accommodate future growth. BNET will use BearingPoint//Beyond’s automated platform to power a range of BSS and OSS functions – including billing, charging, order fulfilment and management, and service activation.

 

As part of the agreement, network inventory specialists CROSS Network Intelligence (CNI) will provide network inventory and service assurance solution to BNET. The unique, multi-tenant capabilities of Infonova BSS can also be extended and used by BNET’s ISP and enterprise customers as a digital innovation and monetisation solution.

 

Commenting on the agreement, BNET chief executive officer Mohamed Bubashait said: “Signing with BearingPoint//Beyond and selection of SaaS is part of our strategy to adopt the latest digital technology in operating the national network, and as per the technical indicators published by leading technical institutes in the telecom sector, cloud technology is the future of the business world.”

 

“AWS provides the most implemented cloud solution in the world, hence adopting this technology is in line with our long term strategic goals to provide a solid quality national broadband network, with high speeds and competitive prices that enable operators to provide internet products and services to its customers that are value added and provide creative solutions,” he continued.

 

The BNET network is a key part of Bahrain’s fourth National Telecommunication Plan (NTP4) to grow and diversify Bahrain’s telecoms sector. The plan includes rolling out fiber broadband connectivity to 100 per cent of businesses and 95 per cent of households across Bahrain. NTP4 aims to provide internet access speeds of at least 100Mbps for up to 95 per cent of homes and 1Gbps for all government and business entities.

 

The BearingPoint//Beyond platform’s multi-tenancy and ecosystem orchestration capabilities offer BNET the potential to launch new revenue-generating offerings in the future – including reselling hosted BSS capabilities to other service providers in the country.

 

“BNET’s planned fiber broadband network is a visionary endeavour that demonstrates Bahrain’s commitment to providing next generation connectivity to its citizens and businesses,” said Angus Ward, CEO of BearingPoint//Beyond. “The combination of AWS’s highly secure, highly scalable, feature-rich cloud capabilities with the flexibility, agility and advanced functionality of BearingPoint//Beyond’s cloud-native Infonova SaaS platform is compelling for operators everywhere who want to modernise their operations and transform their businesses.” - TradeArabia News Service