Mumtalakat-Backed Beyon Announces Three Key Projects
Posted on 05/16/2023
Bahrain Telecommunications Company BSC (Beyon) is a listed portfolio company of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company. Beyon announced the biggest-ever investment in digital infrastructure in Bahrain. The technology group will be investing US$ 250 million in 3 key projects that will help to support the acceleration of Bahrain’s digital transformation and the growth of the country’s digital economy.
Beyon was formed in December 2022. Beyon became the parent company for Batelco, the Beyon Digital Companies, and Batelco’s International Investments.
According to the press release, “Additionally, Batelco is investing to build a regional subsea cable, the ‘Al Khaleej’ Cable which the Company will fully own, enhancing the region’s data exchange. Beyon’s CEO also announced Data Oasis, which will be the biggest technology hub in the Kingdom of Bahrain and include a newly built advanced Data Centre for the Company.
SEA-ME-WE 6 Superhighway Connecting the Middle East to Southeast Asia and Western Europe
The SEA-ME-WE 6 cable system, offering one of the lowest latencies available between the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Western Europe will significantly boost Beyon’s global network infrastructure. SEA-ME-WE 6 will have the capability of transferring more than 100 terabits per second. The new subsea cable will create a layer of network diversity and resilience for the heavily used routes connecting the Middle East towards Europe and Asia.
Al Khaleej Cable, the Company’s Fully Owned Subsea Cable
Batelco is also investing in the Al Khaleej Subsea Cable, to extend from Bahrain to other regional countries including Oman, UAE and Qatar. This fully owned subsea cable will help to diversify routes and augment international connectivity for the region.
Beyon Data Oasis Announced Incorporating Advanced Data Centre
Another major initiative supporting the ever-growing data movement was also announced. Beyon is developing Bahrain’s biggest and most advanced Data Centre that will be located within Beyon Data Oasis, being developed on a 140K Sq. Mts. site located in the south of Bahrain.
Beyon Data Oasis will incorporate the SEA-ME-WE 6 and the Al Khaleej cables into the Data Centre, therefore enabling hyperscalers and businesses to access seamless integrated solutions and helping to strengthen Bahrain’s position as a leading regional technology hub.
Furthermore, the new Data Centre will feature multiple Megawatt power capacity and utilize clean power technologies provided by the Company’s Solar Park, aligning with its sustainability plans to increase alternative power sources.”
In addition to Beyon in Bahrain, the SMW6 consortium includes its sister company Dhiraagu in the Maldives and additionally Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company, Bharti Airtel (India), China Unicom, Djibouti Telecom, Mobily (Saudi Arabia), Orange (France), PCCW Global, Singtel (Singapore), Sri Lanka Telecom, Telecom Egypt, Telekom Malaysia, Telin (Indonesia) and Trans World Associates (Pakistan). The SEA-ME-WE 6 submarine cable connectivity to Bahrain and Al Khaleej Cable are expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2026.
