Telecoms & IT

Over the past 40 years, Oman’s telecoms market has transformed from a state monopoly to a multi-player market, one that has been marked by an increasingly fast pace of development. As more players have entered the market, fierce competition among operators has helped keep prices down. The sector has enjoyed good growth in recent years; mobile subscribers almost tripled between 2005 and the second quarter of 2012, increasing 274% from 1.33m to 4.98m. Looking ahead, the market has several strengths, including an evolving regulatory framework, multiple competitive players and a steadily growing customer base. The market, however, could hit some stumbling blocks as it matures. Regulation has come quite far in the past few years, but communication among state entities, private operators and consumers is set to be crucial to ensure that legislation continues to accommodate growth. This chapter includes an interview with Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO, Information Technology Authority (ITA).