The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Bahrain (TRA) is the official, independent body recognized by the Government of Bahrain for regulating the telecoms sector in Bahrain. TRA presides over licensing, regulation and policy making, consumer protection, and technical operations. TRA was established in 2002, following the promulgation of the Telecoms Law, as stated in Legislative Decree No. 48 of 2002. Activities Mobile, fixed line and broadband regulation TRA regulates mobile phone, fixed-line phone, and broadband providers. TRA carries out this activity through legal instruments that stem from the Telecommunications Law of Bahrain, which was promulgated on October 23, 2002 as Legislative Decree No. 48. The TRA, when devising measures that will have a material effect on a particular Telecommunications market, offer interested parties the opportunity to give their opinions within a reasonable period. This is carried out in the form of public consultations, which it publishes and announces. Consultations may lead to position papers, guidelines, decisions and/or determinations. TRA also uses orders, such as emergency orders where the TRA demands an operator take a particular action to correct anti-competitive activity, or an enforcement order to correct a breach of the Telecommunications Law, or Access Orders to impose access obligations on an operator who has ceased offering a particular service. Market research TRA performs market research as part of its operations. These come in the form of activities including: Annual and quarterly market indicator reports that update telecoms market information and analysis Market surveys that offer insight into consumer satisfaction levels and identify problem areas Price Benchmarking studies and reports that shed light on price levels of different telecoms services compared to other markets, and the impact of price changes on consumers Quality of Service reports that monitor telecom service levels Technical operations Licensing Article 24 of the Law requires that an operator of a Public Telecommunications network requires a License. Individual or Class Licenses are available. TRA's Licensing Department is responsible for granting licenses and ensuring compliance with applicable license conditions. In addition, a Frequency License may also be required by an operator if the service to be provided requires the use of radio frequencies as required by Article 43. Equipment that is covered by an operator’s Frequency License is exempt, as is the case for the three mobile operators Batelco, Zain and Viva and the National Fixed and National Fixed Wireless Service operators Bahrain Broadband (Greenisis), Mena Telecom and Zain.