Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has announced significant milestones in the sultanate’s telecom sector for 2024, with notable gains in subscriptions, infrastructure, and revenues.
Mobile subscriptions grew by 7% to reach 7.5 million, while Internet of Things (IoT) subscriptions surged by 72% to 1.1 million. Fixed broadband connections also displayed a modest 2% increase. At the same time, the number of 5G stations expanded by 12%, supporting the country’s push toward nationwide next-generation connectivity.
Notably, the telecom sector in Oman generated approximately OMR 920 million in revenue last year, marking a 4% rise compared to 2023 and reflecting Oman’s broader economic diversification and digital transformation efforts.
Meanwhile, the number of licensed telecom providers in Oman also climbed by 9% to 24. Companies authorized to offer telecom services also jumped by 63%, totaling 399, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accounting for 72% of them.
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TRA Oman CEO, H.E. Omar Hamdan Al-Ismaili, confirmed that 6,500 telecom towers across the sultanate were upgraded from 3G to 4G and 5G in 2024. In addition, 545 new 5G stations are set to be built this year, bringing the total number of 5G sites to 5,856 (an annual increase of 13%).
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Oman has achieved 100% 4G coverage nationwide and now surpasses the average Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) country in 5G reach, covering 88% of the population.
These developments reflect Oman’s ongoing efforts to build a hyper-connected, technology-driven future, in line with the country’s Vision 2040 goals.
High-speed fixed broadband in Oman also now extends to 90% of residential units, while 97% of public schools are connected to the internet, achieving full internet coverage across all public schools, Al-Ismaili noted.
Remarkably, the telecom sector's ‘Omanization’ rate remained strong, reaching 71% among telecom operators and 40% among telecom implementation companies, with specialist roles achieving 91% among telecom contractors and 66% among licensed telecom providers.
Oman is also investing heavily in ICT talent to achieve digital innovation and growth. In support of this, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) officially launched the National Program for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Advanced Digital Technologies, set to run from 2024 to 2026.
Further underlining its digital progress, Oman climbed 26 spots to rank 22nd globally in the Telecommunications Infrastructure Index and is now among the top 28 countries worldwide for average mobile data download speeds.
Also Read: Oman Set to Transform 30% of Factories into Smart Facilities by 2026
