Bahrain is preparing to award as many as two super-fast 4G licenses, with the winners set to be announced as early as the first quarter of 2013.
Bids have already been invited for Bahrain's long-term evolution (LTE) radio frequencies, which can be used to provide mobile-internet services marketed as 4G.
Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said this week that it will "license appropriate radio frequencies to enable the provisioning of high-speed broadband services over the mobile networks".
Mohammed Al Amer, chairman of the TRA, said it was too early to say whether one or two licenses will be awarded, according to Bloomberg News.
Mr Al Amer added that it was not yet decided whether new operators would be invited to enter the Bahrain telecommunications market in order to run the 4G services.
Even faster 4G licences — which run on frequencies known as LTE Advanced — could also be awarded within two years, Bloomberg News reported.
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