Muscat: The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) on Tuesday issued a directive for international roaming SIMs used in (Internet of Things) devices after consulting with relevant parties in the telecommunications sector.
The IOT devices include sensors, lights, alarms, and cameras (all of which can be controlled from a smartphone) that are connected via IoT to provide 24x7 security.
It also includes activity trackers or sensor devices that can monitor and transmit key health indicators in real time.
The most popular IOT devices are Google Home, Amazon Echo, remote door cams, and Footbot which can measure indoor pollution.
The TRA directive is aimed at licensees or service providers as part of the efforts to regulate international roaming for IoT devices, enhance the security level provided to beneficiaries, and protect their personal data.
The directive states that the provider or importer can provide IoT devices with international roaming services or through local networks, provided that international roaming works on a temporary basis according to a number of obligations, provided they work using the subscriber identification card (SIM/E-SIM) from the licensee
The subscriber will be allowed to use the international roaming SIM cards for these devices for a period not exceeding 90 days in local networks.
Providers or importers of IoT devices operating in international roaming, in the event of a desire to extend it for more than 90 days, can apply to the authority to request an exception through the authority’s website www.tra.gov.om.
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