April 2016 65 www.bahrainthismonth.com Andrew Hanna The scope and shape of competition in the Kingdom’s telecom market is intensifying as consumers look to take advantage of greater choice and better service offerings. However, Hanna believes that 2016 will be a year of innovation and healthy competition for VIVA. He says: “Along 2016, we are introducing Bahrain to a world of modern lifestyle with connected digital solutions under “VIVA Connected Life.” VIVA’s holistic advanced digital solutions connect various aspects of our customers’ lifestyle, from smart homes, to smart cars, e-health and wearable devices. We will also continue enhancing our customer engagement and customer experience and will keep introducing the latest devices, allowing our customers to be the first to enjoy the latest technologies in the fastest and widest 4G LTE network in Bahrain. The telecom market is dynamic and challenging, but there are opportunities for all operators to continue introducing innovative service offerings for consumers with the growth of mobile data. Hanna explains: “The ‘Internet of Things’ is also offering a new space whereby operators can enable and facilitate the collection and exchange of data from devices, vehicles, buildings and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity. “All of this will allow consumers to be able to select from a wide array of new products and services that best suit their usage needs and with flexible plans and packages. The enhancement of operators’ services and quality will also improve the experience that customers will have when using the latest technologies available in the market.” Not content to rest on its laurels, VIVA is continually offering new products and services. Hanna says: “A very popular promotion that IT’S GOOD TO TALK was launched earlier this year was our exclusive Unlimited Postpaid Plans, starting as low as BD5, which is an all-inclusive mobile and data package with unlimited 4G access, free 7GB data, unlimited calls and text messages to all VIVA to VIVA numbers. Adding to this, we also introduced the Unlimited BD7 plan offering our customers free 8GB data and, for heavy data users, we have the Unlimited BD12 plan with free 10 GB free data and 1,000 minutes for calls to other operators. “Another popular introduction has been the BD5 and BD10 device add-ons that allow customers to enjoy the latest devices from Samsung, Huawei and Lenovo. Our tablet bundles have also been highly welcomed as they allow customers to get one or more tablets with VIVA’s Postpaid Broadband plans.” The youth market is an area VIVA is keen to cater to, Hanna says: “Youth is highly important to us. They are always up to date with the latest devices, their data usage is high and they are encouraged to try new technologies, so they are very active customers that we care for. We constantly offer promotions and bundles that cater to their needs and we CHARLIE HOLDING BTM chats with Andrew Hanna, chief commercial officer of VIVA Bahrain, about the company’s plans for 2016. actively support events and activities in which they are directly involved. “In line with this, we have introduced bundles appealing to youth and gamers, offering the Sony PlayStation 4 with four free games and no upfront payment with VIVA Broadband plans, or the XBOX one with Kinect and three free games as a device add-on or with our broadband plans.” VIVA is constantly expanding its retail network and, to date, is has 24 retail outlets positioned in strategic locations across Bahrain. “We recently opened a retail outlet in the Centre Mall in Sanad and will soon be opening another branch in Wadi Al Sail Mall in Riffa,” Hanna says. Over the past six years, the company has experienced strong growth by continually adapting to the changing consumer behaviour and technological trends. Hanna says: “With consumer choice more varied now, and with with the introduction of different price plans and technologically advanced products and services, we will continue innovating and transition from being a service provider to a fully-converged telecom provider.”
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