Muscat: The Telecom Communications Authority (TRA) will focus on enhancing the quality of internet services with several initiatives to be launched this year, this was revealed at its annual press conference on Tuesday.
The plans include rolling out more sites for 5G and moving completely from the low-speed ADSL service to fiber-based home internet.
Omar al Ismaili, the CEO, of TRA, said, "We over achieved the target, which was to reduce the number of ADSL subscribers by 50 per cent. There used to be more than 140,000 subscribers in 2020, and today we are talking about 30,000 subscribers. We are working with all telecom operators to move towards high speed."
He added, "The other element is giving more spectrum to telecom operators, which will enhance the quality of services, which include the phasing out of 3G services and give more emphasis on 4G and 5G."
Al Ismaili said that cyber security is a concern for all and all telecom operators and they are obligated to invest more in improving their technology to protect the end users. There is a collaboration with other entities in Oman to have a bigger role when it comes to cybersecurity." Other highlights of the press conference were an increase in mobile phone subscriptions in 2023 by three percent, in mobile broadband by five percent, in fixed telephone by three percent, and fixed broadband by five per cent.
The important projects completed in 2023 were the controls for investment in the infrastructure of fiber optic networks, the requirements for preparing an emergency management plan in the telecommunications sector, and the issuance of controls for public auction procedures for mobile phone numbers.
TRA is focusing on improving telecommunications services for the sectors of education, health, tourism, industry, transportation, environmental sustainability for the telecommunications and postal sectors, and innovation, scientific research, and development in the field of communications.
It has completed the launch of the early warning system in the coastal states in cooperation with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The number of postal companies increased by 31 percent, to 63 in 2023, and the total number of workers on permanent contracts was 1,676.
The total revenues of companies licensed in the postal sector in the Sultanate reached about RO20.6 million by the end of 2023, an increase of 14 percent compared to 2022.
Starlink Muscat got a license to provide communication services using satellite systems.
The total revenues of the telecommunications sector in 2023 amounted to about RO851 million, an increase of 12 percent compared to 2022, while the total number of workers in companies licensed in the sector reached 4,167 workers, with an Omanization rate of 94 percent.
Among telecom operators, Awasr mentioned the launch of the Omani Internet Exchange, linking leading institutions in the industry, networks, data centers, and cloud services in the Middle East and beyond, while Ooredoo launched new data centers at the global level in Suhar, Salalah, and Barka, and a communications center to serve customers with hearing disabilities.
Vodafone reported a 50 per cent growth rate in the subscriber base, while its services can be used in 29 countries with the local tariff.
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