The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) will stop providing third-generation (3G) mobile services gradually, starting from the third quarter of 2024.
TRA said its plans to stop the third-generation mobile communications services from July 2024 as part of the efforts to improve communications services, directing natural resources such as frequency band spectrum, investing in modern technologies, and focusing on offering services with better quality.
TRA had earlier said that there is a program to close 3G networks so that service providers can use 3G spectrum capacities for new technologies such as 4G and 5G.
The suspension will take place gradually in the least populated areas.
The decision also reflects the rapid development of the telecommunications sector in the world, which necessitates investment in modern technologies, which results in shutting down the least effective networks to allow the use of more effective networks, allowing subscribers better quality services and enhancing the experience of using the latest and most advanced networks.
In the first six months of 2022, 21% out of 526,531 home fixed broadband subscriptions were via 5G wireless, while 49 percent fixed broadband subscriptions were in the Muscat Governorate.
There has been a constant growth in the number of Fiber to Home subscriptions with more homes and areas coming under coverage.
It was revealed that nearly 80 percent of buildings will be covered by fixed high-speed broadband, noting that over 600,000 buildings are covered by fiber services in 2022.