Bahrain’s leading telecommunications provider Batelco has implemented eKey 2.0, a digital identity solution that uses facial recognition technology to enhance secure access and streamline customer onboarding processes. The implementation marks a significant advancement in Bahrain’s digital transformation initiatives, following the country’s broader push toward digital identity solutions that began with Beyon Connect’s entry into the Bahraini market earlier this year.
The eKey 2.0 system is being integrated into Batelco’s mobile application, providing an improved customer onboarding experience while maintaining robust security standards. The company plans to expand the technology’s capabilities to include biometric verification for e-commerce transactions in the future. The development follows the broader trend of telecommunications providers adopting biometric authentication, as the global image recognition market is projected to reach $86 billion by 2025.
“We applaud Batelco for embracing eKey 2.0 and driving change in the telecom market,” said Christopher Hild, CEO of Beyon Connect. “Their forward-looking approach underscores the benefits of a smooth, secure user onboarding, faster service provisioning, and robust identity verification—key elements for advancing Bahrain’s broader digital transformation goals.”
“Batelco is excited to be one of the early adopters of eKey 2.0’s biometric-based identity solutions and to incorporate it with its services,” said Batelco General Manager Consumer Division Aseel Mattar. “By integrating this advanced technology into our services, we’re not only simplifying the customer onboarding process but also elevating service delivery.”
The adoption of eKey 2.0 extends beyond the telecommunications sector in Bahrain. The technology has been integrated into Bahrain Post’s “My Gov” app for postal service management and the National Portal for e-Government (Bahrain.bh) for secure access to government services. The expansion mirrors similar digital identity initiatives in the region, such as Bank ABC’s implementation of biometric verification for mobile banking in Bahrain.
“We are proud to welcome Batelco as a pioneer in linking their services with eKey 2.0,” said Mohammed Ali Al-Qaed, Chief Executive of iGA. “Their adoption of this cutting-edge digital identity solution reflects their commitment to providing their customers with highly secured services, best user-experience, and plays a crucial key role in advancing Bahrain’s national digital transformation plans.”
Sources: Batelco, ID Tech Wire
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