What VIVA Bahrain does

stc Bahrain (formerly VIVA Bahrain) is a telecommunications operator headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, providing integrated mobile, broadband, and digital services to consumers, businesses, and wholesale customers across the Kingdom of Bahrain. Founded in 2010 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia-based stc Group (Saudi Telecom Company), the company rebranded from VIVA Bahrain to stc Bahrain in 2026 to align with the parent group's unified regional brand identity spanning Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The company is led by CEO Nezar Banabeela.

The company's core technology infrastructure centers on a 5G mobile network supporting prepaid and postpaid mobile plans, 5G Home wireless broadband, and fiber-to-the-home services, with eSIM-based activation and the mystc BH mobile application distributed across iOS, Google Play, and Huawei AppGallery. Its product portfolio spans connectivity (postpaid from BD 11/month, family plans from BD 33/month for up to 5 lines, 5G Home from BD 12.2/month, fiber from BD 16/month, prepaid from BD 3), consumer electronics distribution under authorized retailer partnerships with Apple, Samsung, and Honor, and adjacent services including device insurance, extended warranty, motor insurance (via a partnership with Solidarity), an instant-delivery digital gift card platform, and the stc pay mobile payment service.

Revenue is generated through subscription-based mobile and broadband contracts, one-time device hardware sales, recurring insurance premiums, and transactional fees on digital gift card distribution. The company serves three documented customer segments — Personal/Consumer, Business/Corporate, and Wholesale — distributed via physical retail stores, the shop.stc.com.bh e-commerce portal, the mystc BH self-serve app, a dedicated enterprise sales channel at business.stc.com.bh, and wholesale carrier services at wholesale.stc.com.bh. The company operates exclusively within Bahrain and benefits from the regional brand, capital, and operational backing of the parent stc Group, though it has no public funding history as a subsidiary and no disclosed revenue.

Name

VIVA Bahrain

Legal name

stc Bahrain

Website

https://viva.com.bh

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

stc Bahrain (formerly VIVA Bahrain) is a Bahrain-based telecommunications operator and subsidiary of Saudi stc Group, offering 5G mobile plans, fiber and 5G home broadband, device retail (Apple, Samsung, Honor), insurance, and digital gift cards to consumer, business, and wholesale customers in Bahrain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Manama

HQ country

Bahrain

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Mobile Services (Prepaid & Postpaid): Recurring subscription revenue from mobile voice, data, and SMS plans. Includes prepaid top-ups and postpaid monthly plans with unlimited calls and data options.
2. Home Broadband (5G Home & Fiber): Monthly subscription revenue for residential high-speed internet including 5G wireless and fiber optic plans.
3. Device Sales: One-time revenue from smartphones (iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Honor), tablets, laptops, wearables (Apple Watch), and accessories. Devices sold through online shop and retail stores.
4. Insurance Services: Motor/car insurance partnership with Solidarity, and device protection/insurance plans. Premium revenue for coverage services.
5. Digital Gift Cards: Transaction-based digital gift cards for gaming, entertainment, and retail with instant delivery. Includes PUBG UC, Free Fire, PlayStation, iTunes, Amazon, Xbox, Nintendo eShop, McAfee, Shahid, and more.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

stc Bahrain (formerly VIVA Bahrain) is a Bahrain-based mobile network operator providing prepaid, postpaid, family, and data-only mobile plans with 5G connectivity, along with 5G Home wireless and Fiber home broadband services. The company distributes a full consumer electronics lineup including Apple, Samsung, and Honor smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearables, headphones, gaming consoles, and smart TVs, and offers insurance services (device, extended warranty, and motor), digital gift cards, premium numbers, and the stc pay mobile payment service.

Product overview

stc Bahrain (formerly VIVA Bahrain) operates as a telecommunications operator offering a comprehensive suite of mobile and home connectivity services alongside an extensive device portfolio. The core offerings include Postpaid, Prepaid, Youth, and Family mobile plans (starting from BD 3-33/month), as well as 5G Home Internet and Fiber broadband services (starting from BD 12.2-16/month). The company distributes a wide range of consumer electronics including Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch, AirPods), Samsung smartphones, laptops, tablets, wearables, headphones, gaming consoles, and Smart TVs. Additional services include Device Insurance, Extended Warranty, Car Insurance (via Solidarity partnership), Digital Gift Cards (gaming, entertainment, shopping), stc pay mobile payment platform, eSIM activation, and Premium number selection. The mystc BH mobile app enables account management, bill payments, and usage tracking. The product ecosystem is unified through the stc Bahrain brand with self-service options via Quickpay, online shop, and dedicated mobile application.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Postpaid Mobile Plans Monthly mobile plans with unlimited calls, data, and 5G connectivity starting from BD 11/month, supporting up to 5 lines per account. Targeted at individual consumers seeking reliable postpaid mobile service in Bahrain.
• Prepaid Mobile Plans
• Family Mobile Plans
• Data-Only Mobile Plans
• 5G Home Internet
• Fiber Home Internet
• Business Mobile and Broadband Solutions
• Wholesale Network Services
• Smartphones Wide range of smartphones including Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, Samsung Galaxy, Honor Magic V6, and other major brands available for purchase with mobile plans or outright. Targeted at consumers seeking the latest mobile devices in Bahrain.
• Wearables Smartwatches and fitness trackers including Apple Watch Ultra 3 and other brands offering health monitoring and connectivity features. Targeted at consumers seeking wearable technology in Bahrain.
• Tablets iPad and Android tablets including iPad 11 WiFi available for personal entertainment and business productivity use. Targeted at consumers and professionals seeking tablet devices in Bahrain.
• Laptops Laptop computers including MacBook Neo 13 and other brands for work, study, and creative applications. Targeted at professionals, students, and consumers seeking portable computing in Bahrain.
• Headphones and Earphones Wireless and wired headphones including AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and premium audio brands with noise cancellation features. Targeted at consumers seeking personal audio devices in Bahrain.
• Gaming Consoles and Accessories Gaming consoles, accessories, and gift cards for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and PC gaming platforms. Targeted at gaming consumers in Bahrain.
• Smart TVs Smart televisions with internet connectivity and streaming capabilities for home entertainment. Targeted at households seeking connected TVs in Bahrain.
• Device Insurance Insurance coverage for smartphones and devices protecting against damage, theft, and hardware failures. Targeted at device owners in Bahrain seeking protection for purchased electronics.
• Extended Warranty Extended warranty service providing additional coverage beyond the standard manufacturer warranty for electronic devices. Targeted at consumers purchasing devices in Bahrain seeking long-term protection.
• Car Insurance Motor vehicle insurance offered in partnership with Solidarity, allowing customers to purchase comprehensive car insurance online within minutes. Targeted at vehicle owners in Bahrain.
• Digital Gift Cards Instant digital gift cards for gaming (PUBG UC, Free Fire, League of Legends, Razer Gold), entertainment (Shahid, BluTV), music (iTunes), shopping (Amazon, eBay), and security (McAfee), with instant delivery starting from BD 0.36. Targeted at consumers seeking digital vouchers in Bahrain.
• stc pay Mobile Payment Service Mobile payment and financial service app enabling money transfers, bill payments, and digital transactions across Bahrain. Targeted at consumers and merchants seeking digital payment solutions under the stc group umbrella.
• Premium Numbers Special VIP and premium mobile phone numbers with memorable digit patterns available for selection by customers. Targeted at individual and business subscribers seeking distinctive phone numbers in Bahrain.
• Apple iPhone 17 Pro Apple's premium smartphone with advanced processing, camera capabilities, and 5G support, offered by stc Bahrain starting from BD 17.7. Targeted at consumers seeking flagship Apple devices.
• Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple's flagship large-screen smartphone featuring advanced specifications, 5G connectivity, and premium design, distributed by stc Bahrain. Targeted at consumers seeking Apple's flagship large-screen device.
• Apple iPad 11 WiFi Apple tablet featuring WiFi connectivity, distributed by stc Bahrain for personal and business use. Targeted at consumers and professionals seeking Apple's tablet line.
• Apple AirPods 4 (Active Noise Cancellation) Apple's premium wireless earbuds featuring Active Noise Cancellation technology, distributed by stc Bahrain. Targeted at consumers seeking premium wireless audio accessories.
• Apple MacBook Neo 13 Apple's laptop featuring a neo design with 13-inch display, distributed by stc Bahrain for professionals and creative users. Targeted at professionals, students, and creative users.
• Apple Watch Ultra 3 Apple's premium smartwatch with 49mm display featuring advanced fitness tracking, health monitoring, and rugged design, distributed by stc Bahrain. Targeted at consumers seeking premium wearable devices.
• Honor Magic V6 Huawei's foldable smartphone featuring advanced folding display technology, 5G connectivity, and premium specifications, distributed by stc Bahrain with interest registration available. Targeted at consumers seeking premium foldable devices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Family plans support up to 5 lines
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• stc Group (Saudi Arabia)flagshipOthersstc Bahrain is a subsidiary of stc Group, the major telecommunications operator headquartered in Saudi Arabia. stc Group operates subsidiaries across multiple countries including Bahrain (stc Bahrain), Kuwait (stc Kuwait), and manages digital payment services including stc pay.
• ApplecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorstc Bahrain is an authorized retailer of Apple devices including iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPad 11, AirPods 4, MacBook Neo 13, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. Apple products are prominently featured on the stc Bahrain website and shop.
• SamsungcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorstc Bahrain sells Samsung Galaxy devices as part of its smartphone portfolio. Samsung devices are available alongside Apple devices in the online shop and retail stores.
• HonorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorstc Bahrain offers Honor devices including Honor Magic V6, with interest registration available on the stc Bahrain website.
• SolidaritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between stc Bahrain and Solidarity for car insurance services. stc offers motor insurance through insurance.stc.com.bh in collaboration with Solidarity, allowing customers to purchase car insurance within minutes.
• JusoorminorOthersJusoor is stc Bahrain's CSR initiative program covering charitable donations, SMS donation services, and community initiatives. Managed through contact-us/partnerships section.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Batelco (Bahrain Telecommunications Company): Batelco is the incumbent telecommunications operator in Bahrain offering mobile, broadband, enterprise, and wholesale services. It is the closest direct competitor to stc Bahrain within the same single-country market.
• Zain Bahrain: Zain Bahrain is the third mobile operator in Bahrain and a subsidiary of Zain Group. It competes head-to-head with stc Bahrain on postpaid, prepaid, broadband, and enterprise offerings in the same domestic market.
• Mobily (Etihad Etisalat): Mobily is the second mobile operator in Saudi Arabia and competes with stc Group's domestic Saudi operations. Comparable in product mix (mobile, fiber, devices) and in competing against an stc-Group-affiliated operator.
• du (Emirates Telecommunications Group Company): du is the second mobile operator in the UAE competing with Etisalat across consumer mobile, home broadband, and enterprise. Like stc Bahrain, it operates in a small GCC duopoly/oligopoly market with similar product mix.
• Viva Kuwait (now stc Kuwait): Viva Kuwait was the original sister brand of VIVA Bahrain before the regional stc rebrand. It operated under an identical playbook of mobile + broadband + device retail before being folded into the unified stc identity.
• stc Kuwait: stc Kuwait is a sister subsidiary of stc Bahrain under stc Group, offering mobile, broadband, and enterprise services in Kuwait. It shares the same parent, brand identity, and operating playbook as stc Bahrain.

Broad incumbents

• Orange Jordan: Orange Jordan is a regional mobile, broadband, and enterprise operator under the Orange Group brand. It is comparable as a mid-sized single-market MENA operator offering mobile, fiber, and digital services.
• Etisalat (e&): e& (formerly Etisalat Group) is a major regional telecom incumbent headquartered in the UAE with diversified operations across MENA, Asia, and Africa. It serves as a benchmark regional peer for scale, ARPU, and digital-services diversification.
• Ooredoo: Ooredoo is a Qatari-headquartered regional telecom group operating across MENA and Asia with consumer mobile, broadband, and fintech (Ooredoo Money) businesses. It is comparable on cross-market scale, mobile + fintech bundling, and digital wallet offerings.

Regional players

• Vodafone Qatar (now Vodafone Qatar / ooredoo-related ecosystem): Vodafone Qatar operates consumer mobile and fixed services in Qatar under a Vodafone-brand partnership. It is comparable as a single-market GCC mobile operator with device-retail and postpaid focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/viva_bh
• Facebookfacebook.com/viva.bahrain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/859754

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VIVA Bahrain