Batelco’s Free Calls and Reduced International Rates Report

“Batelco (Bahrain Telecommunications Company) launched Sim Sim Home offer on 15^th February, 2010. In its offer Batelco has reduced the rates of international calls to 26 locations including “India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines, Nepal, Thailand, Iran, Iraq, Ethiopia, Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Tunisia, Syria, Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, USA, UK, Germany, France, Canada and China” (“Free calls and reduced rates to 26 international destinations with Batelco SimSim Home”). No change was made in local calls. Batelco brought up this scheme keeping expatriates in mind. “SimSim Home is the ideal package for customers who want to call their friends and families in any of the overseas locations included in this package” (“Free calls and reduced rates to 26 international destinations with Batelco SimSim Home”).

Telecommunications is a globally blooming industry. A large number of players in market are squeezing per call profits. In order to survive in challenging situation it is important for companies to come up with attractive and sustainable schemes. The offer by Batelco will attract consumers from India, China, and Bangladesh etc. Many people from abovementioned countries migrate to Gulf countries in search of employment leaving their families in native lands. “Customers with the SimSim Home package will have their accounts credited with 500 fils each month, as long as their lines are active. The free credit is dedicated for IDD calls and is valid for 7 days. Local calls will be charged at a FLAT rate @ 40fils On-net and 45fils Off-net per minute when using the SimSim Home package” (“Free calls and reduced rates to 26 international destinations with Batelco SimSim Home”). However, Batelco should also generate alternatives to cover revenues from Value added services. This step could be a response to increasing competition from Vodafone which was launched in 2003. From 1981 to 2003 Batelco was the only leading telecommunication company in Bahrain.

Works cited

“Free calls and reduced rates to 26 international destinations with Batelco SimSim Home”. batelco.com. Batelco, n.p. 2010. Web.