MUSCAT — Oman’s Mohammed Al Barwani Group (MB Group) is moving beyond satellite ground-station services to owning dedicated satellite capacity, positioning the shift as a strategic bet on data connectivity and long-term control over critical communications infrastructure.
“We started with the idea of ground services,” said Said bin Saleh Al Jabri, CEO of Mohammed Al Barwani LLC. “But when we went deeper, we asked: why stop there? Why not own the satellite itself?”
The remarks follow a January 26 announcement that MB Group has signed an agreement with San Francisco-based Astranis to deliver Oman’s first dedicated MicroGEO communications satellite. The satellite will be launched under Astranis’ Block 3 mission with SpaceX later in 2026, with services expected to begin in early 2027.
Al Jabri said the project reflects a strategic pivot for a conglomerate long associated with oil and gas. In recent years, MB Group has expanded into new sectors and is now reorienting toward technology, arguing that future growth will be driven by connectivity and the use of data across industries.
The group’s entry into space began with ground infrastructure. After studying options and gaining exposure to space-related capabilities, particularly in military and security applications, MB Group initially focused on ground services and acquired a stake in a business operating in that segment. However, Al Jabri said the group concluded that owning the space asset itself would be a faster and more decisive way to establish a long-term position in satellite communications.
The move carries risk, he acknowledged, noting that many specialists warned the group it was a major step. Yet he argued that the market opportunity is expanding and that the investment is designed as a scalable platform rather than a one-off purchase.
Al Jabri said the satellite alone represents an investment exceeding $100 million, excluding ground infrastructure and supporting systems. MB Group expects its total space-related investments to surpass $200 million within a few years, aligning with the programme outlined in the announcement, which includes the satellite, ground stations, and additional digital infrastructure.
Although the satellite is dedicated to Oman, the business model is regional. Oman is not expected to consume the full capacity, with the remainder marketed to nearby markets. The group’s initial commercial focus will be Oman, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
Astranis’ MicroGEO satellites are designed to provide dedicated broadband capacity to a single customer, rather than shared throughput across multiple users. Under the agreement, Oman will operate under a dedicated network model with full control over its digital infrastructure.
Al Jabri linked full ownership to operational flexibility, especially for critical users. In shared-capacity models, customers access only a portion of bandwidth alongside others. “Here, if we own the entire satellite, it becomes easier to allocate specific capacity, including for security use, without any third party entering the picture,” he said.
The launch is expected before the end of 2026, with the satellite targeted to become operational in the first quarter of 2027 following in-orbit commissioning. Al Jabri also signalled follow-on missions, referring to second and third satellites as MB Group builds experience in the sector.
“We are still learning,” he said, adding that further details would be shared closer to launch and operational readiness.
