Bahrain-based leading telecom operator 2Connect is 80 per cent owned by Bahraini and Saudi shareholders and not the opposition figure Ibrahim Sharif, the founding Managing Director 2Connect Fahad AlShirawi, said on Wednesday.
AlShirawi said the decision of the TRA for revoking the licences of 2Connect was not fair as the company was founded by Bahrainis and owned by Bahrainis along with Saudi shareholders and not Ibrahim Sharif as media quoted saying.
“The work was on to buy the entire shareholding and transfer to the employees as stakeholders as a bigger family. I am a major shareholder and take pride in being Bahraini to establish 2Connect as a success story over past many years,” he said.
“2Connect is a Bahraini telecom company offering numerous job opportunities to locals and contributing directly and indirectly to the development of the national economy. The company never closed its operations during the challenging times keeping in view the one goal that the wheel of the national economy should keep moving,” Fahad explained.
AlShirawi was talking to journalists during a brief visit to 2Connect offices located at the NBB Tower Manama.
The commitment of 2Connect, he said, is an indication of being a leading Bahraini company and the company shares all security concerns of the country.
Talking about possible network misuse, AlShirawi said that 2Connect was ready to face any network forensic from abroad to satisfy the concerned authorities. “We are ready to bring an international network forensic expert at the company’s expense of authority’s choice to make a thorough assessment of the affairs. This exercise will help to clarify the position of 2Connect in much transparent way,” he explained.
“We are national company and operate responsibly within the mandate and guidelines of the regulators.”
On Tuesday, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced that it had revoked all the licenses issued to 2Connect WLL.
According to the order all licences of 2Connect shall be revoked which coincides with the 27th of March 2011.
AlShirawi appealed to the HM the King and leadership to review the decision of the TRA and let 2Connect contribute towards national development as being a Bahraini telecom company.