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Directory Enquiry (DQ) Charging was introduced for calls made from mobile phones in August 2007. As part of Batelco’s social commitment to the community, a fixed amount from each call is allocated and donated to charity. The amount of donation raised to date from DQ calls made from mobile phones is more than BD11,000.
 
As a result of the ongoing deregulation of the Bahraini market, Batelco’s Directory Enquiries (numbers 181 and 188) via mobile phones and fixed lines has become a chargeable value-added service. This is consistent with other telecommunications service providers operating in competitive markets.
 
Following the TRA’s (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority) approval of the charging rate, from July 15^th 2008, all calls made from fixed lines to Batelco’s Directory Enquiries will now be charged at a rate of 150 fils. As per the mobile calls, a fixed amount from each call will be allocated and donated to charity. Some of the charities that have recently benefitted from Batelco donations are Hope Institute for Special Education and Shaikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa Cardiac Centre.
 
“As a community-minded organisation that supports many of the Kingdom’s worthwhile causes, special consideration is being given to special needs customers, including those who are sight impaired, and also to low income customers,” said Batelco Board Secretary and Company Spokesman Ahmed Al Janahi.
Any customer who is registered with Batelco as having special needs or low income will be given 10 free DQ calls in each billing cycle. The registration for this is done by ID card validation or a letter issued by the Ministry of Social Development.
 
“We have established that the average number of calls a person makes to Directory Enquiries is two per month, so we are offering 10 free calls to those who cannot avail of the non-voice alternative DQ services and those with low incomes,” said Mr. Al Janahi.
 
Furthermore, Batelco would like to remind the public that Batelco’s free online directory is available at www.bah-directory.com.bh  and hard copies of Batelco Telephone Directory are distributed free of charge to households and businesses throughout the Kingdom annually.
 
In order to give fixed line customers plenty of time to become familiar with the new charge, a pre-recorded message will be placed to remind users that their call to 181 or 188will be charged. 

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