Two connectivity deals have been announced in Oman in the past few days, both relating to the extension of communications services to remote parts of the country.
Omani group Space Communication Technologies Company (SCT) has signed a multi-year contract with Oman Broadband to provide communications and internet services to approximately 598 remote villages and residential areas in Oman.
This contract is part of the country’s Universal Service Obligation project, which is in turn part of a national initiative by Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).
SCT will be providing and running the full satellite communication infrastructure, covering the whole of Oman. This will include multiple government institutions, with more than 100 schools and health centres. Oman Broadband will coordinate with the local fixed line internet service providers in Oman to accommodate users’ needs. The satellite communications infrastructure includes high throughput satellites (HTS) using Ka-band.
But that’s not the only news of significance to Oman’s more remote areas. A little earlier this week Ooredoo and Oman Broadband (OBB) announced an agreement to connect remote regions with high-speed fixed broadband internet in Oman, again as part of an initiative by TRA.
Under the agreement, the parties will provide quality satellite bitstream to previously underserved areas in a number of governates across the sultanate.
The project is part of Oman’s Vision 2040, which aims to build a knowledge-based economy and society.