The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Oman has published an Information Memorandum (IM) detailing the process for the award of the country’s third mobile network operator (MNO) licence. Any interested party wishing to submit a bid application will be required to meet a number of minimum requirements. These include: owning and operating telecoms infrastructure and providing mobile services in its country of origin for a period of at least ten years, as well as in at least one other country for a minimum of five years; having annual turnover equivalent to more than USD250 million from mobile telecoms services; and having a net asset value of at least USD400 million at the time of application. The closing date for the availability of the IM is 26 December 2016.
The TRA said that it considers that the enhancement of competition in the mobile market will significantly benefit consumers and the economy of the Sultanate, adding that ‘the availability of a range of additional radio spectrum that could be deployed is expected to provide a multitude of mobile telecom services, particularly mobile broadband, to consumers’.
TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database notes that Oman is currently home to two MNOs, majority state-owned Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) and Ooredoo Oman, in which Qatari incumbent Ooredoo holds a 55% stake. In addition, two MVNOs – FRiENDi mobile and Renna Mobile – are active in the wireless sector.