MANAMA: Batelco last night welcomed the government’s decision to limit the upcoming long term evolution (LTE) capacity auction to those already operating in Bahrain.

Batelco Group chief executive Shaikh Mohamed bin Isa Al Khalifa said the decision is crucial for commercially launching LTE in Bahrain.

“Batelco is ready with the network technology in place and we hope to be successful in winning the required spectrum to deliver this much awaited advancement to our customers,” he said.

“We extend our appreciation to the leadership and the government for their directives which has led to this crucial decision. The leadership’s support for the advancement of telecommunications in Bahrain has ensured it has remained one of the leading business hubs of the region.”

LTE refers to the fourth generation of mobile technology and enables the delivery of super fast data speeds.

“There is no doubt that LTE/4G will stimulate the path to the networked society in Bahrain by enabling global connectivity to the people, businesses and society,” he added.