­Bahrain's Batelco has announced that the telecoms regulator, the TRA has reduced a fine it imposed in 2009 covering access to international cable facilities.

Batelco said that the BD5.24 million (US$13.89 million) fine imposed by theTRA had been reduced to just BD750,000.

The issue centered on allegations of limited access for rival companies to Batelco property which is where the international cable landed in the country.

Group CEO Sheikh Mohamed bin Isa Al Khalifa said: "We are pleased that this matter has been finally resolved through an independent international arbitration panel and in a transparent manner where all parties involved presented their arguments."

"The fact that the fine has been reduced supports Batelco's original position that such a breach should not have attracted a punitive fine as originally imposed by the TRA."

He added that this is the first arbitration case carried out in Bahrain under the Telecommunications Law to have reached a conclusion.