Technology & Telecommunications
Advisory, audit, and financial support for technology and telecommunications organisations navigating regulation, innovation, and infrastructure investment.
Telecom Sector Overview
Supports the telecom sector with strategic guidance to navigate competition, technology shifts, and regulatory challenges.
The Sultanate of Oman is among the region’s most progressive countries in the telecom sector in terms of liberalisation and the promotion of competition. Telecom operators and service providers in Oman offer consumers a wide range of telecommunications services based on state-of-the-art technology. The sector has made significant progress in the liberalisation process in line with the Government’s strategy and vision, which aims to liberalise the Omani telecommunications sector by attracting private sector investment for the economic and social development of the Sultanate and turning the telecommunications sector into an attractive and competitive sector.
Mobile Infrastructure and 5G Readiness
In early 2020, the consortium agreed to lease mobile towers from Oman Tower Company (OTC), which will allow them to enter the mobile market more quickly. OTC planned to build more mobile towers in Oman throughout 2020 and make these available for infrastructure sharing. Oman has established a progressive mobile sector, with substantial coverage of both 3G and 4G LTE networks. Trials have also been conducted, networks upgraded, and spectrum allocated in readiness for 5G. The regulator has allowed the major mobile operators, Omantel and Ooredoo, the right to use a 100MHz 5G spectrum.
Broadband Expansion and National Strategy
While Oman’s fixed broadband infrastructure penetration is considered low, it is being improved through the construction of fibre-based networks as part of Oman’s National Broadband Strategy. By 2040, it is hoped that all homes and businesses will be connected to the national broadband infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) confirmed that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between a company owned by the local investment funds and Vodafone as a strategic partner to complete the procedures for obtaining the third operator licence to provide mobile telecommunications services in the Sultanate.
Market Challenges and Competitive Pressure
Due to the volatile nature of the sector, accessing capital and finding and retaining the right personnel are more challenging than ever. The ever-increasing complexity of products, escalating manufacturing costs, and the continuing trend of convergence are among the factors that demand alternative ways of evaluating business competitiveness.
Advisory and Strategic Support
We can help you with:
- Assessing and coping with technology challenges.
- Convergence management.
- Inclusion of provisions that maximises concessions.
- IP management.
- Mergers, acquisitions, and takeovers.
- IPO issuing and private funding.
- Personnel management.
