As Oman accelerates its digital transformation journey under Vision 2040, Oman Data Park, the country’s premier managed services provider, plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of its digital landscape. In an exclusive interview, Khalid al Abri, General Manager – Finance and Corporate Services at Oman Data Park, discussed how the company’s robust data centre infrastructure, cloud services, and cybersecurity solutions are driving the nation’s digital evolution.
Overview of Oman Data Park’s Services
Oman Data Park, established in July 2012, has positioned itself as the Sultanate’s leading IT managed services provider. The company offers a range of premium services, including hosting, data centre operations, cloud services, cybersecurity, and managed services. Its state-of-the-art Tier III and Tier III+ data centres across Oman provide high availability, security, and efficiency, ensuring uninterrupted operations for clients. With a service reliability efficiency (SRE) of 99.98%, Oman Data Park delivers round-the-clock support, enabling clients to focus on their core business activities while the company manages their IT infrastructure and services.
Diverse Client Base
Oman Data Park serves a wide array of clients, from major corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company works with government entities, businesses in telecommunications, banking, logistics, oil and gas sectors, and more. By offering cost-effective and secure solutions, Oman Data Park allows these organizations to streamline their IT operations and focus on their primary business goals.
Managed Services and IT Infrastructure
Oman Data Park manages its clients’ IT infrastructure, ensuring seamless operation and management of systems, including cooling systems, physical security, and cybersecurity. The company’s managed services extend to cloud solutions, ensuring the health, efficiency, and security of clients’ IT environments. The company’s role is integral in maintaining business continuity, ensuring that all elements—power, cooling, connectivity, backups, and redundancy—work flawlessly.
Supporting Oman’s Digital Transformation Goals
As part of Oman’s Vision 2040, the demand for ICT services is rapidly growing, and Oman Data Park plays a critical role in leading the development of cutting-edge technology solutions. The company is committed to providing the necessary technology infrastructure for businesses to operate efficiently, offering cloud services such as Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Amazon Web Services (AWS), along with a national cloud service that ensures data residency within Oman.
Infrastructure and Data Centre Expansion
Oman Data Park’s current infrastructure boasts a total capacity of over 10 megawatts, with plans to double this to 20 megawatts within the next five to ten years. This expansion is driven by the growing demand for AI infrastructure, which requires significantly higher power consumption. With international companies increasingly engaging with Oman due to its strategic location and resources, the demand for data centre services is expected to grow, especially as AI continues to revolutionize industries.
Data Residency and Security
By hosting international hyperscalers locally, Oman Data Park enhances data security and ensures compliance with data residency regulations. This provides a competitive edge by allowing companies to choose the most suitable hyperscaler for their applications while ensuring their data stays within Oman’s jurisdiction. Local cloud services also address security and regulatory challenges posed by storing data outside the country.
Financial Performance and Growth
Oman Data Park has experienced impressive growth, with an average annual revenue growth rate of 20%. The company holds a dominant position in Oman’s public sector IT services, commanding over 70% market share. Looking ahead, the company expects the ICT sector to contribute significantly to Oman’s GDP, in line with Vision 2040’s goal of a 10% contribution from technology. As digital transformation and AI adoption continue to expand, Oman Data Park’s role in the sector will only grow.
Future Expansion and Investment
Oman Data Park’s future expansion will focus on three key areas: data centres, cloud services, and cybersecurity. The company plans to further grow its data centre infrastructure to meet the increasing demand for AI and cloud services. Additionally, it is expanding its cybersecurity capabilities to protect businesses from evolving cyber threats. Oman Data Park is also exploring strategic mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to enhance its service offerings and market reach.
The Role of Emerging Technologies
Emerging technologies such as AI, 5G, and edge computing are playing transformative roles in the ICT sector. AI enables businesses to operate more efficiently and securely, while the expansion of 5G networks will significantly improve connectivity speeds and data processing capabilities. At Oman Data Park, the company is aligning its infrastructure and services with these technological advancements to help businesses stay at the forefront of digital transformation.
Oman Data Park continues to be a key enabler of Oman’s Vision 2040, playing a critical role in fostering the nation’s digital transformation and creating a more connected, innovative future for businesses across the country and beyond.
