Batelco was announced the winner of 2 top awards at the 2nd Annual Samena Regional Awards 2009, which took place in tandem with the "Convergence to Istanbul" conference held at the Ciragan Palace, Kempinski Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, on the 4th and 5th of November.

Batelco won the awards for Best NGN Operator of the Year and Best Telecom Deal of the Year. Batelco Chief Executive Bahrain, Gert Rieder, was in attendance and collected the awards on behalf of the Batelco Group.

Mr. Rieder said that he was privileged and delighted to receive such prestigious awards on behalf of Batelco.

"These awards are a testament to Batelcos investment strategy to enhance the Kingdoms infrastructure and grow the Batelco Group into a company of reference in the region,"

he said.

The Samena (South Asia, Middle East, North Africa) Regional Awards are organised by the Samena Telecommunications Council, which is an international telecom consortium that strives to encourage innovation in telecom, and partnership and networking between member companies.