Oman’s telecom sector has experienced notable growth in 2024, with increased usage of mobile phones, internet, and smart devices, according to new data released by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).
The number of mobile phone users rose to 7.5 million in 2024, reflecting a 7 percent increase from 6.9 million in 2023. Fixed home internet connections also saw a slight rise, reaching 573,000, up from 562,000 the previous year.
The most significant growth was observed in smart device connections, including IoT services like smart meters and connected cars, which surged by 72 percent, reaching 1.15 million in 2024 compared to just 245,000 five years ago.
TRA officials also reported that telecom companies saw higher revenues, reaching RO 920 million in 2024, up 4 percent from RO 881 million in 2023. The industry also invested more in infrastructure, with investments amounting to 28 percent of total revenue, significantly surpassing the global average of 15-20 percent.
Efforts to improve internet access continued, with 97 percent of public schools now connected to high-speed broadband, and 90 percent of households having broadband internet, up from 85 percent in 2023. The number of fiber-optic internet connections increased from 5,238 in 2023 to 5,856 in 2024, while broadband units also grew from 737,000 to 841,000.
Oman’s postal sector also showed growth, with domestic deliveries reaching 3.2 million, outbound international items totaling 437,000, and inbound international shipments at 3.4 million. Postal companies generated 27.2 million rials in 2024, marking a 2 percent increase from the previous year.
The Omanisation rate in the telecom and postal sectors stood at 93 percent in telecom companies, 71 percent in postal firms, and 40 percent in service contractors. Additionally, the TRA confirmed the phased shutdown of the 3G mobile network, with 5,600 stations already upgraded to newer technologies.
To accommodate growing data demands, new frequency bands at 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz have been allocated.
