The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has intensified field inspections across Muscat and beyond, seizing unauthorized wireless equipment as part of a critical campaign to safeguard Oman’s digital economy and online security.
While illegal sharing or selling of internet connections without a license may seem harmless or convenient, these unauthorized networks degrade service quality, threaten telecom investments, and expose users to significant cyber risks.
Unlicensed networks interfere with legitimate signals, slowing internet speeds and undermining the experience for paying customers—students, families, and businesses alike. More importantly, these practices reduce subscription revenues that fund vital infrastructure upgrades such as fiber networks and 5G expansion, risking stagnation in Oman’s rapidly growing digital sector.
Oman’s telecom market now boasts over 8 million mobile subscriptions in a population of 4.5 million and has seen over 15% growth this year. The national vision aims to increase the digital economy’s GDP share from 3% to 10% by 2040, a target reliant on protecting critical infrastructure.
Illegal Wi-Fi networks often arise from demand for cheaper options but distort market competition, reduce quality, and expose users to cyber threats—including data breaches, identity theft, and phishing attacks. Despite Oman’s top-tier cybersecurity ranking globally, rogue networks create vulnerabilities that weaken the national digital defense.
Legally, operating telecom services without a license carries heavy penalties—fines up to RO 50,000 and potential imprisonment. The TRA’s enforcement includes monitoring traffic patterns, public awareness campaigns, and encouraging community reporting of suspicious activity, framing compliance as a shared civic responsibility.
Addressing underlying issues, Oman is accelerating its national fiber rollout targeting 75% building coverage this year, fostering competition to lower prices, and implementing new sector policies for 2025.
Oman’s digital future depends on trust, lawful practice, and collective action. By eliminating illegal wireless networks today, the TRA is ensuring a safer, fairer, and more connected tomorrow for all citizens.
