The Sultanate of Oman has retained regulatory control over the valuable 73.5° East geostationary orbital slot after pledging to launch a temporary satellite by December 2025 and contract a Ka-band high-throughput satellite (HTS) by the end of the year. The full-scale HTS satellite, aimed at delivering advanced broadband services across the Middle East, South Asia, and Central Asia, is slated for launch in 2028.
This extension granted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) marks a significant milestone for Oman’s satellite communications ambitions, which have faced delays since their inception in 2018 under the Omansat-1 project. To comply with ITU’s “use-it-or-lose-it” policy and maintain the slot, Oman issued a tender for a temporary satellite in late 2024 and outlined a clear roadmap that earned ITU’s approval.
Oman’s recent progress in space technology includes the successful November 2024 launch of OL-1, the country’s first AI-powered Earth observation satellite, developed in partnership with Star Vision Aerospace and Mars Development & Investment Company. OL-1 enhances capabilities in environmental monitoring, infrastructure planning, and land use assessment.
Supporting these efforts, Royal Decree 40/2025 granted OmanSat a Category I license to operate national satellite communication services, facilitating fixed broadband in underserved areas and advancing Oman Vision 2040’s digital transformation goals.
Oman is poised to strengthen its regional space presence through these satellite projects, leveraging space infrastructure as a key pillar of economic diversification and technological development.
