At a media briefing on Monday, Omantel CEO Talal bin Said al Mamari emphasized the profound transformation taking place in Oman’s telecommunications sector, underscoring the company’s crucial role in connecting the economy and essential services. He highlighted Omantel’s provision of comprehensive, high-quality solutions encompassing artificial intelligence, education, healthcare, and other services.
A key takeaway from his address was Omantel’s investment of around RO 12 million to empower Omani tech entrepreneurs, demonstrating its commitment to innovation and the growth of the digital economy.
To meet the growing demand for internet services, the company plans to lay four to six new submarine cables linking Salalah with other destinations over the next two years. Omantel already holds a significant market share in the regional telecommunications landscape, with its submarine cables accounting for nearly 15% of total regional connectivity.
Al Mamari noted the expansive growth of Omantel’s internet and digital services, with individual data consumption over its network quadrupling over the past decade and tripling in the last three years.
The company also plans to establish a specialized academy to foster artificial intelligence skills, collaborating with international partners to stay aligned with the latest advancements in this critical field.
Al Mamari highlighted Omantel’s successful partnerships with global players to enhance national capabilities in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. These collaborations aim to boost commercial value and drive innovation in the information and communication technology sector.
Notable agreements include a partnership with Amazon Web Services to develop cloud sovereignty, enhancing Oman’s cloud capabilities, and another to launch a marketplace creating new opportunities for Omani companies to expand regionally and globally. Omantel also signed an agreement with Google to develop Cloud Edge using AI and machine learning capabilities.
Additionally, agreements with Microsoft to accelerate ICT innovations and with Huawei to establish Oman’s national cloud platform were secured.
Al Mamari noted that these partnerships, along with solutions from Omantel subsidiaries and the company’s international connectivity, support Omantel’s transition into an integrated technology solutions provider to meet the growing needs of its enterprise and consumer customers.
Reflecting its commitment to national development, Omantel’s Omanisation level has now reached an impressive 93%, enhancing citizen participation in the company’s growth and development journey, he added.
