2Connect given stay of execution

Bahraini ISP 2Connect will be able to continue operating in the country after Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said it was planning to reverse its earlier decision to revoke the operator’s telecoms licences.

“The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority announced its intention to issue a resolution to cancel its previous resolution which revoked the telecommunications licenses of 2Connect W.L.L upon 2Connect rectifying its status,” the TRA said in a statement.

Bahrain's TRA originally announced the shutdown of 2Connect on March 20 and at first stated the deadline would be exactly one week later. Within days, the TRA extended the deadline for 2Connect to stop all telecoms services in Bahrain to April 23.

The TRA gave no reason for its decision to revoke 2Connect’s licence, although a previous director of 2Connect, Ibrahim Sharif, is head of opposition party Waad, and was arrested during in government clampdowns in March.