Telecommunications in Oman describes the fixed and mobile telecommunications infrastructure, Internet access, broadcasting distribution, and sector regulation in the Sultanate of Oman. The sector is regulated by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), established in 2002 to liberalise and promote telecommunications services, and later mandated to regulate postal services in 2012. [1]
Official statistics published by the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI) indicate that, at the end of December 2025, Oman recorded 8,054,413 mobile subscriptions (including machine-to-machine/IoT subscriptions), 5,421,911 mobile broadband subscriptions, 598,907 fixed broadband subscriptions, and 443,320 fixed telephone subscriptions; FTTH/B subscriptions were reported at 356,897 (about 59.6% of all fixed broadband lines). [2]
Oman’s retail mobile market is served by three primary mobile network operators (MNOs)—Omantel, Ooredoo Oman, and Vodafone Oman—while fixed services are provided by Class I licensees (including Omantel, Ooredoo Oman, and Awasr). [3] The TRA also licenses wholesale and “digital infrastructure” providers (including open-access fibre and passive tower companies), as well as international gateway and satellite service providers. [3]
The state historically provided telecommunications through public-sector entities before the establishment of the General Telecommunications Organisation (GTO) by Royal Decree No. 43 of 1980, with a mandate to provide domestic and international telecommunications services. [4] Omantel states that it was incorporated as a closed joint stock company in 1999 and was granted sole responsibility for fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Oman prior to further liberalisation measures in the 2000s. [4]
The TRA was established in 2002 as part of a liberalisation framework intended to promote competition and develop the sector. [1] Omantel reports that the government sold 30% of its stake when Omantel became a publicly listed company in 2005, and that a second Class I mobile licence was awarded in 2005 (the operator that later rebranded as Ooredoo Oman). [4]
Omantel further reports that mobile resellers launched in 2009, and that Awasr was granted a fixed Class I licence in 2012. [4]
In 2021, a third Class I mobile licence was awarded to Oman Future Telecommunications Company (operating as Vodafone Oman), expanding the retail mobile market from a long-standing two-operator structure to three MNOs. [4] [5]
The TRA is the implementing authority for Oman’s telecommunications policies and is responsible for sector liberalisation and market development under the telecommunications legal framework. [1] The TRA maintains licensing frameworks (including Class I public telecommunications services licences), and publishes public information on licence holders and sector activities through official portals. [3]
Oman uses a class-based licensing regime. In broad terms:
The TRA periodically consults on licensing and market frameworks, including new licensing approaches for emerging service categories. [7]
Spectrum allocation and refarming underpin Oman’s transition from legacy mobile generations to newer technologies. In the mid-2020s, Oman implemented a nationwide phase-out of 3G networks to refarm spectrum for 4G and 5G services; trade press reporting described regional shutdowns culminating in nationwide completion by July 2025, alongside reported population coverage levels of 99% for 4G and 90% for 5G after completion (as reported by trade press citing regulator and operator information). [8]
Oman’s country calling code is +968 under the E.164 numbering plan. [9] The country-code top-level domain is .om, administered under the global IANA Root Zone Database. [10]
The TRA has issued regulations governing web-based services, including provisions that enable regulatory action against services and websites in specific circumstances (for example, non-compliance with licensing or other regulatory requirements). [11]
International reporting has also noted restrictions affecting specific services. Reuters reported in 2020 that Oman temporarily lifted curbs on some internet calling tools (such as Skype and Zoom) during the COVID-19 period, while WhatsApp calling remained blocked at that time according to the same report. [12] Reuters also reported that Omani authorities attributed the 2021 blocking of the Clubhouse audio app to licensing/permit issues in public statements. [13]
In addition to enforcement against unlicensed services, licensed alternatives have been authorised. For example, Muscat Daily reported that Oman Data Park obtained a VoIP services licence from the regulator and launched VoIP services under the licensing framework described in its coverage. [14]
For international comparison, regulators in some open internet markets treat VoIP as an electronic communications service subject to general telecoms/consumer obligations rather than a prior-permit model for most “over-the-top” applications (for example, Ofcom guidance on VoIP services in the UK and the Federal Communications Commission’s rules for “interconnected VoIP” in the United States). [15] [16]
The TRA’s Class I list includes mobile and fixed operators, international gateways, and infrastructure-related licensees (such as tower and wholesale networks). [3]
As of the mid-2020s, Oman’s retail mobile market is served by three primary MNOs:
Operator reporting and market disclosures provide partial visibility of relative scale. Omantel reported a domestic mobile subscriber base of 3.96 million at end-December 2024 (including mobile resellers), and separately reported a mobile market share of 40.2% at end-December 2024 excluding mobile resellers. [17] Ooredoo Oman reported a mobile customer base of 2.624 million for FY2024 and a mobile customer market share of 33.4% at end-December 2024. [18] Vodafone Oman reported in a 2024 anniversary statement distributed via business press that it had reached a 14% mobile market share (methodology as stated in the release). [19]
| Operator | Technology (retail) | Estimated subscribers (millions) | Ownership status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omantel | 4G / 5G | 3.96 (end-Dec 2024, reported domestic mobile subscribers incl. resellers) [17] | Public listed company; Government of Oman reported by Omantel as owning 51% (2024) [20] | Omantel also reported 40.2% mobile market share excluding mobile resellers (end-Dec 2024). [17] |
| Ooredoo Oman | 4G / 5G | 2.624 (FY2024, reported mobile customer base) [18] | Majority owned by Ooredoo (Ooredoo Group stated it is the only shareholder holding >10% in Ooredoo Oman reporting) [21] | Ooredoo Oman reported 33.4% mobile market share at end-Dec 2024 and provided prepaid/postpaid split in its FY2024 disclosures. [18] |
| Vodafone Oman | 4G / 5G | N/a (public subscriber counts not routinely disclosed in operator statements) | Operates under Oman Future Telecommunications Company (Class I mobile licence). [5] | Vodafone Oman reported reaching 14% mobile market share in a 2024 anniversary statement (as reported via business press distribution). [19] |
Note: Published subscriber totals and market shares may not be directly comparable across operators due to differences in definitions (e.g., inclusion/exclusion of resellers and M2M/IoT connections). NCSI publishes system-wide totals for total mobile subscriptions (including M2M/IoT) rather than operator-level splits. [2]
Fixed services are provided by Class I fixed licensees including Omantel and Ooredoo Oman, and by other fixed providers listed by the TRA (including Awasr). [3] NCSI reports fixed telephone and fixed broadband totals without limiting the categories to legacy copper lines, reflecting the ongoing transition from legacy fixed access to fibre and IP-based voice in some markets. [2]
International gateway (IGW) licensees enable international connectivity (for example, international voice interconnect, international IP connectivity, and operation of gateway facilities as permitted by the licence). The TRA’s Class I list includes multiple IGW providers, including Omantel, Ooredoo Oman, TEO, Connect Arabia International, Awasr and Vodafone Oman (as shown on the TRA Class I licensee listings). [3] Connect Arabia’s licence documentation describes obligations around international interconnection agreements and related regulatory approvals. [22]
The TRA publishes a current list of Class II licensees and the scope/status of each licence. [6]
| Licensee | Scope of licence (as listed by TRA) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Awaser Oman & Partners SAOC | Resale of public mobile service | Licensed |
| Majan Telecommunications LLC | Resale of public mobile service | Licensed |
| Beyond One Oman LLC | Resale of public mobile service | Licensed |
| Al Bahlani Communication & Technology | Resale of public mobile service | Expired (per TRA listing) |
Oman’s national networks combine terrestrial optical fiber routes, microwave backhaul and access networks for both fixed and mobile services. Fixed broadband growth in the 2020s has been primarily associated with expansion of fibre-based access (FTTH/B), with NCSI reporting FTTH/B subscriptions of 356,897 at the end of December 2025 (327,015 at end of December 2024), alongside an overall fixed broadband base of 598,907 at end of December 2025 (582,900 at end of December 2024). [2]
| Date | Fixed broadband (total) | FTTH/B | Other fixed broadband (non-FTTH/B) [a] | FTTH/B share of fixed broadband |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of Dec 2024 | 582,900 [2] | 327,015 [2] | 255,885 | 56.1% |
| End of Dec 2025 | 598,907 [2] | 356,897 [2] | 242,010 | 59.6% |
Oman’s fibre rollout includes a wholesale/open-access component. Oman Broadband states that it is a government company founded in 2014 (part of the ITHCA Group, affiliated with the Oman Investment Authority) with a focus on deploying broadband infrastructure that provides “equal and open access” to service providers on a wholesale basis. [23] Oman Broadband has also publicly described rollout methods including fibre deployment projects that use existing electricity pole infrastructure in some areas (as reported by regional business press). [24]
The TRA also licenses passive telecommunications infrastructure providers, reflecting a policy emphasis on site sharing and separation of “passive” assets (towers, rooftops, shelters and related site facilities) from “active” radio networks. Oman Tower Company states that it provides passive infrastructure solutions including greenfield towers, rooftops, and in-building solutions. [25] Oman Tower Company is also listed as a Class I licensee by the TRA. [3]
Oman operates a national research and education network (NREN), the Oman Research and Education Network (OMREN), intended to provide high-capacity connectivity and advanced network services for universities, research institutions and related public-sector entities. OMREN describes its mission as supporting education and research through dedicated connectivity, community services and peering with international research networks. [26] OMREN also describes international connectivity arrangements including links to research and education network communities such as GÉANT and other regional research network initiatives, aimed at enabling global academic collaboration and access to specialised research services. [27]
Omantel’s enterprise materials describe OMREN as a national platform connecting Omani institutions and enabling access to global research and education networks (including references to international R&E network communities in its product description). [28]
Oman’s international connectivity is supported by multiple submarine communications cable systems with landing stations in Oman, alongside terrestrial cross-border routes. Omantel’s wholesale infrastructure materials describe connectivity to more than 20 undersea cable systems and operation of five separate landing stations in Oman, positioning the Sultanate as a regional connectivity hub for routes linking the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. [29] Equinix’s Oman-related announcements similarly describe Omantel as having investments in over 20 submarine cable systems and five unique submarine cable landing stations in Oman. [30]
Independent cable-industry directories list multiple cable systems landing in Oman (including systems with landing points in Muscat and Salalah), reflecting the diversity of routes available via the Sultanate. [31]
NCSI reports international internet bandwidth capacity (system-level indicator) of 4,102,130 Mbps at the end of December 2025, compared with 3,572,065 Mbps at the end of December 2024. [2]
Oman has developed an Internet exchange point to support domestic and regional IP peering. Oman-IX was announced in 2023 by a partnership involving Awasr, AMS-IX and Alliance Networks, and was officially launched in April 2024 (as reported by AMS-IX and data centre industry press). [32] [33]
Carrier-neutral data centre investment has been promoted as part of Oman’s connectivity and submarine cable strategy. Equinix and Omantel announced the opening of Salalah SN1, described as a carrier-neutral data centre in Oman, in November 2024. [30]
The TRA’s Class I list includes satellite-related telecommunications licensees and service categories, including entities licensed for satellite public telecommunications services and associated system operation (as published on the TRA Class I register). [3]
NCSI reported 443,320 fixed telephone subscriptions at the end of December 2025, compared with 435,482 at the end of December 2024. [2] Fixed voice services are provided by Class I fixed licensees and can include IP telephony services in addition to legacy fixed-line services. [3]
Oman uses country calling code +968. [9]
NCSI reports 8,054,413 total mobile subscriptions at the end of December 2025. Within this total, prepaid subscriptions were reported at 5,148,166, postpaid subscriptions at 1,273,795, with machine-to-machine/IoT subscriptions reported separately at 1,632,452. [2] For end-December 2024, NCSI reported 7,507,224 total mobile subscriptions (including 4,872,050 prepaid, 1,235,011 postpaid, and 1,400,163 M2M/IoT). [2]
| Date | Prepaid | Postpaid | M2M/IoT | Total mobile subscriptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of Dec 2024 | 4,872,050 [2] | 1,235,011 [2] | 1,400,163 [2] | 7,507,224 [2] |
| End of Dec 2025 | 5,148,166 [2] | 1,273,795 [2] | 1,632,452 [2] | 8,054,413 [2] |
Oman’s mobile sector includes GSM (2G), UMTS (3G), LTE (4G) and 5G services across licensed operators. [3] The phase-out of 3G networks in 2024–2025 was reported as a refarming measure to increase spectrum efficiency for 4G/5G services, with nationwide shutdown described as complete by July 2025 in trade press reporting citing regulator and operator statements. [8]
Fixed broadband subscriptions were reported by NCSI at 598,907 at end-December 2025 (582,900 at end-December 2024). [2] Fibre-based access (FTTH/B) represented a substantial portion of fixed broadband subscriptions, reported at 356,897 at end-December 2025 (327,015 at end-December 2024). [2] Fixed broadband services are offered by Class I fixed licensees listed by the TRA (including Omantel and Ooredoo Oman), and by other licensed fixed providers such as Awasr. [3]
NCSI reported 5,421,911 mobile broadband subscriptions at end-December 2025, compared with 5,344,731 at end-December 2024. [2] Secondary performance indicators are also published through measurement indices such as the Speedtest Global Index and operator-level experience reporting such as Opensignal’s country reports for Oman. [34] [35]
International statistical series also track internet adoption. The ITU’s country data for “individuals using the Internet” lists Oman at 95.3% (latest value shown for 2024 on the ITU portal, as accessed in February 2026). [36]
Telecommunications and financial institutions in Oman have developed mobile wallet and merchant payments products that combine telecom distribution, app-based wallets and regulated banking/payment rails.
Omantel announced the launch of eFloos, described as a mobile wallet in partnership with Sohar International (bank), enabling payments and money transfer features as described in Omantel’s media release and product materials. [37]
Ooredoo Oman announced the launch of Pay+, described as a digital wallet (in partnership with National Bank of Oman), in its corporate release describing features such as payments and transfers within the scope described by the provider. [38]
In addition to telecom-branded wallets, Oman has promoted interoperable payments platforms. Network International announced a partnership with Thawani Technologies (described as an Omani payment solutions provider) relating to merchant acquiring and payment acceptance, illustrating a fintech ecosystem alongside operator-led wallet offerings. [39]
Such developments are sometimes compared in policy and development literature to telecom-linked mobile-money models such as Kenya’s M-Pesa, which the World Bank describes as a mobile money service launched by Safaricom in 2007 and widely used for transfers and payments. [40] In Oman, wallet products are typically framed as collaborations between telecom operators, banks and payment service providers under national payments and regulatory frameworks, rather than as a single dominant, telecom-led mobile money platform. [37] [38]
Oman’s data protection framework includes the Personal Data Protection Law issued by Royal Decree No. 6/2022, under the authority of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT). Official MTCIT forms and guidance reference the law and its implementing requirements, including breach reporting within defined timeframes under the implementing framework. [41] Professional commentary has also reported transitional compliance periods extending into 2026 as implementation progressed. [42]
Oman’s state television services are operated under the Public Authority for Radio and Television (PART), which was established by Royal Decree No. 108/2010 (as described in UNESCWA’s national profile and related public documentation). [43] Public information pages about the authority describe a multi-channel television portfolio including Oman TV and additional thematic channels (including Oman Cultural and other channels). [44]
Oman implemented a digital terrestrial television rollout using DVB-T2 beginning in 2017, as reported by DVB industry communications. [45]
Radio broadcasting in Oman includes state-operated and private FM services. Oman’s national English-language FM service (often branded as Oman FM / Radio Sultanate of Oman English) is commonly described as operating on 90.4 FM and broadcasting in English (as listed by major radio aggregators and station profiles). [46]
Private FM services include English-language and Arabic-language music/talk stations. For example:
Industry summaries of Digital Audio Broadcasting indicate that Oman has been referenced in connection with DAB/DAB+ awareness and trials, while FM remains the primary terrestrial radio platform. [53]
| Date | Fixed telephone subscriptions | Fixed broadband subscriptions | FTTH/B subscriptions | Mobile broadband subscriptions | Total mobile subscriptions (incl. IoT/M2M) | International internet bandwidth capacity (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of Dec 2024 | 435,482 [2] | 582,900 [2] | 327,015 [2] | 5,344,731 [2] | 7,507,224 [2] | 3,572,065 [2] |
| End of Dec 2025 | 443,320 [2] | 598,907 [2] | 356,897 [2] | 5,421,911 [2] | 8,054,413 [2] | 4,102,130 [2] |
| Indicator | Absolute change | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|
| Total mobile subscriptions (incl. M2M/IoT) | +547,189 | +7.29% |
| Mobile broadband subscriptions | +77,180 | +1.44% |
| Fixed broadband subscriptions | +16,007 | +2.75% |
| FTTH/B subscriptions | +29,882 | +9.14% |
| International internet bandwidth capacity | +530,065 Mbps | +14.84% |
