Bahrain

Bahrain
Bahrain is the second highest population per square kilometer in the world, second to Hong Kong.

It's an island in the Arab Gulf (or Persian Gulf depending on your map) Bahrain is linked to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by a very important brdige, this bridge links the cars motion, and the internet cables to Bahrain from KSA. Bahrain has three GSM providers, Batelcom, Zain, and Viva. It's important to note that due to it's limited supply, Bahain does not have unlimited data plans nether for postpaid or prepaid.

Batelco
Batelco is the national provider, and the ONLY landline/ADSL provider. It's the first, and in most cases has both best coverage and most expensive.

Zain
Zain in the second oldest carrier in Bahrain. Its mother land is Kuwait. It's also the only carrier who provides WiMax services. But it's being phased out now in preperation for 4G LTE.

Zain has one of the best lines of devices, and it keeps expanding them in all directions.

Prepaid Rates as of 21st September 2013

- SIM cost: 2 BHD -> 5.3$

- 0.039 BHD/min -> 0.10$

- 0.035 BHD/SMS -> 0.092$

- 0.004 BHD/100KB -> 0.0095$

- 2 BHD gives you 1 GB/Week -> 5.3$

Viva
Viva is the newest carrier, it's an expansion of STC Saudi Arabia, and has the reputation of having the lowest rates and the best value-for-money.

The carrier lakes though in the devices arena.