Oman telecom sector 2023 revenues reach RO 851 million
Published: 04:02 PM,Feb 27,2024 | EDITED : 08:02 PM,Feb 27,2024
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority officials and guests are pictured during the media forum in Muscat yesterday.
MUSCAT: Omar bin Hamdan al Ismaili, CEO of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, said in 2024, the Authority will carry out 29 field surveys of state centers to measure the quality of telecommunications services provided to beneficiaries.
Al Ismaili added that the Authority has focused during the past period on raising quality through various initiatives to increase the number of 5G networks and fibre optic connectivity, in addition to initiatives to stimulate the transition from the copper fiber network to the fifth generation service or fibre optic networks. This contributed to better tariffs, greater encouragement for the beneficiary, and providing diversity in terms of fixed and mobile service packages, indicating that the Authority balances the sustainability of the sector’s growth with providing services at reasonable prices.
He explained that telecommunications companies have a large and important role in the field of artificial intelligence. In terms of providing an infrastructure that attracts this field, artificial intelligence services require the presence of strong data centers with the ability to process data at a better speed, whether as processors or linking with the final beneficiary, so that the speeds are higher, in addition to supporting investment efforts in emerging technologies and the artificial intelligence industry.
During the meeting, statistics of the telecommunications and postal services sectors, projects completed in 2023, the performance of fixed and mobile telephone networks, and upcoming work projects were reviewed.
The authority indicated that communications sector statistics show an increase in mobile phone subscriptions in the Sultanate of Oman during the year 2023 by 3 per cent, in mobile broadband by 5 per cent, in fixed telephone by 3 per cent, and in fixed broadband by 5 per cent.
The authority explained that the total revenues of the telecommunications sector in 2023 amounted to about RO 851 million , an increase of 12 per cent compared to 2022, while the total number of workers in companies licenced in the sector reached 4,167 workers, with an Omanisation rate of 94 percent.
The Authority stated: The number of licenced postal companies increased by 31 per cent, reaching 63 companies in 2023, and the total number of workers on permanent contracts there reached 1,676 workers, with an Omanisation rate of 78 per cent. The total revenues of companies licenced in the postal sector in Oman reached the end of 2023 to about RO 20.7 million, an increase of 14 per cent compared to 2022.
The Authority indicated that the most prominent projects completed during the past year were the controls for investment in the infrastructure of fibre optic networks, the requirements for preparing an emergency management plan in the telecommunications sector, and issuing controls for public auction procedures for mobile phone numbers.
It also stressed the completion of the early warning system in the coastal states in cooperation with Civil Aviation Authority and operators, and issuing a first-class licence to Starlink Muscat to provide fixed public telecommunications services.
During the current year, the Authority is focusing on improving telecommunications services for the sectors of education, health, tourism, industry, transportation, environmental sustainability for the telecommunications and postal sectors, innovation, scientific research and development in the field of communications.
The transition from third generation service to 4G and 5G and the distribution of new bands to telecommunications companies in the Sultanate of Oman will work to improve and improve communications services during the coming period. — ONA
Al Ismaili added that the Authority has focused during the past period on raising quality through various initiatives to increase the number of 5G networks and fibre optic connectivity, in addition to initiatives to stimulate the transition from the copper fiber network to the fifth generation service or fibre optic networks. This contributed to better tariffs, greater encouragement for the beneficiary, and providing diversity in terms of fixed and mobile service packages, indicating that the Authority balances the sustainability of the sector’s growth with providing services at reasonable prices.
He explained that telecommunications companies have a large and important role in the field of artificial intelligence. In terms of providing an infrastructure that attracts this field, artificial intelligence services require the presence of strong data centers with the ability to process data at a better speed, whether as processors or linking with the final beneficiary, so that the speeds are higher, in addition to supporting investment efforts in emerging technologies and the artificial intelligence industry.
During the meeting, statistics of the telecommunications and postal services sectors, projects completed in 2023, the performance of fixed and mobile telephone networks, and upcoming work projects were reviewed.
The authority indicated that communications sector statistics show an increase in mobile phone subscriptions in the Sultanate of Oman during the year 2023 by 3 per cent, in mobile broadband by 5 per cent, in fixed telephone by 3 per cent, and in fixed broadband by 5 per cent.
The authority explained that the total revenues of the telecommunications sector in 2023 amounted to about RO 851 million , an increase of 12 per cent compared to 2022, while the total number of workers in companies licenced in the sector reached 4,167 workers, with an Omanisation rate of 94 percent.
The Authority stated: The number of licenced postal companies increased by 31 per cent, reaching 63 companies in 2023, and the total number of workers on permanent contracts there reached 1,676 workers, with an Omanisation rate of 78 per cent. The total revenues of companies licenced in the postal sector in Oman reached the end of 2023 to about RO 20.7 million, an increase of 14 per cent compared to 2022.
The Authority indicated that the most prominent projects completed during the past year were the controls for investment in the infrastructure of fibre optic networks, the requirements for preparing an emergency management plan in the telecommunications sector, and issuing controls for public auction procedures for mobile phone numbers.
It also stressed the completion of the early warning system in the coastal states in cooperation with Civil Aviation Authority and operators, and issuing a first-class licence to Starlink Muscat to provide fixed public telecommunications services.
During the current year, the Authority is focusing on improving telecommunications services for the sectors of education, health, tourism, industry, transportation, environmental sustainability for the telecommunications and postal sectors, innovation, scientific research and development in the field of communications.
The transition from third generation service to 4G and 5G and the distribution of new bands to telecommunications companies in the Sultanate of Oman will work to improve and improve communications services during the coming period. — ONA