" A Access: The Kingdom has taken a two pronged approach for taking the access of electronic services to the masses:
Reduction in cost of access: The Kingdom is amongst the most liberal telecom regimes in the middle east. Introduction of new operators, TRAs proactive policies and formation of Bahrain Internet Exchange has brought down the cost of internet access tremendously.
Providing access through other channels: The eGovernment strategy has proposed the setting up of 15 Citizen Services Centers where the citizens can avail electronically enabled services either through self service kiosks or through the counter. Additionally, services through the mobile will be introduced in the next one year. Given that Bahrain has amongst the highest mobile penetration in the world, this will enable almost anyone to access government services electronically without the need to buy computer and bandwidth.
B - Basic skills: Bahrain has a high literacy rate. Furthermore ambitious programs such as the King Hamads Schools of the future are facilitating the development of IT skills at the grass roots level. Most of the ministerial staff is well versed in using computers. The eGovernment program lays emphasis on developing the IT management skill sets and a comprehensive program for the same is underway.
C - Content: The Kingdom is undertaking steps to tailor content according to the preference and usage patterns of the general populace. While developing the eGovernment strategy over a Voice of Citizen survey was held to understand and take into account the expectations and aspiration of all the constituents.
D - Desire: The eGovernment program is being driven by the political leadership at the highest level. The SCICT (Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology) is headed by the Deputy Prime Minister himself. Each member of the Technical Committee for ICT (TCICT) that works as the technical secretariat to the SCICT was involved in drafting the eGovernment vision. The Kingdom has also established laws such as the eTransactions law, eGovernment Bylaw and smart card law to facilitate use of IT for provisioning government services. The above is a testimony to the desire of the top leadership to use eGovernment for improving the delivery of government services.
E - Engagement: The Kingdom has decided to utilize ICT for facilitating participation of citizens and businesses in government institutions and processes. The contact details of senior government functionaries are published on the national eGovernment portal. Feedback mechanism and a system for conducting online polls will be in place by the end of March 2007. Furthermore, some of the ministries have their own grievance redressal / feedback systems available online.
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