Oman’s mobile telecom landscape has undergone a structural shift over the past five years, driven by aggressive 5G investment, regulatory reforms, and intensified competition following Vodafone’s market entry.
According to the latest Ookla report, Omantel, Ooredoo, and Vodafone have expanded network coverage and improved service quality nationwide. Performance outcomes, however, vary sharply based on spectrum depth, rollout strategies, and operating models.
5G services were first introduced in late 2019 for fixed wireless access and expanded to full mobile services in 2021. Since then, mobile capital expenditure has climbed from OMR 87.1 million in 2021 to OMR 124.3 million in 2024. This investment lifted 5G infrastructure from 1,587 sites covering 44.9% of the population in 2021 to 5,893 sites reaching 91% by 2024.
While this trails Qatar and the UAE’s near-universal coverage, the progress is notable given Oman’s geography and terrain.
User experience has improved materially. Median 5G download speeds rose from 191 Mbps in Q4 2022 to 260 Mbps in Q4 2025, while overall mobile speeds more than doubled to 121.8 Mbps. Oman climbed five places in the Speedtest Global Index to 18th position in 2025.
Omantel led the market with early 5G deployment, rolling out nearly 2,300 5G sites and trialling 5G Advanced. Its strong spectrum portfolio and early mover advantage consistently deliver top-tier performance.
Ooredoo closed the gap through heavy investment, lifting 5G population coverage from 79% in 2024 to 97% by September 2025. The activation of additional mid-band spectrum pushed its median 5G speeds above 320 Mbps.
Vodafone’s 2022 entry disrupted a previously duopolistic market. Using an asset-light, cloud-native model, it achieved over 98% population coverage and reached one million 5G users by mid-2025. However, limited spectrum holdings constrained performance, with median 5G speeds falling below 90 Mbps under rising network load.
Spectrum depth remains the primary performance differentiator. Omantel and Ooredoo each hold 100 MHz in prime mid-band spectrum, while Vodafone relies on narrower allocations. Because most 5G deployments remain non-standalone, 4G spectrum diversity also materially impacts throughput.
Despite these limits, Vodafone captured 16% market share within three years, driven by aggressive pricing, transparent plans, and a digital-first operating model that resonated with youth and price-sensitive segments.
Regulatory reforms by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority have been pivotal. Measures included 3G sunset roadmaps, spectrum refarming, infrastructure sharing, and the creation of Oman Tower Company. These lowered barriers to entry, enabled Vodafone’s launch, and allowed incumbents to redirect capital toward capacity and performance.
By Q4 2025, Omantel and Ooredoo clearly led network performance, while Vodafone emerged as a credible third operator. Stronger competition, regulatory foresight, and sustained investment have elevated Oman’s global broadband standing, with further gains expected as operators transition toward standalone 5G.
