The SAMENA Telecommunications Council will convene SAMENA Council Leaders’ AXIS 2026 in Muscat on October 13, 2026, with Omantel as Host Sponsor. To be held under the theme “Oman: The New Geography of Digital Investment,” Leaders’ AXIS 2026 is an investment and industry-development conference focused on Oman’s digital development and the opportunity for capital, technology companies, infrastructure players, institutions, and industry stakeholders to participate more deeply in the country’s growth environment.
The conference will connect Oman’s economic diversification priorities with the infrastructure and capabilities increasingly required by digital economies: international connectivity, data centers, cloud, AI and compute, satellite infrastructure and services, renewable energy, and the institutional and commercial partnerships needed to convert these areas into sustained economic activity.
A central theme of SAMENA Council Leader’s AXIS is the opportunity to view Oman’s infrastructure strengths as part of a broader investment proposition. The agenda considers how subsea cable systems, landing stations, data centers, cloud, computing capabilities, space and satellite technologies, and sustainable energy infrastructure can collectively support the Sultanate’s position as a destination for digital investment and innovation.
Eng. Aladdin Baitfadhil, Chief Executive Officer of Omantel, said:
“Oman’s opportunity extends well beyond connectivity. At Omantel, we are building on this foundation to attract infrastructure investment, expand computing and data capabilities, advance opportunities in space and satellite technologies, and support digital growth through resilient and sustainable infrastructure. Sustained industry engagement and strategic partnerships will be essential to realizing the full value of Oman’s digital potential. SAMENA Council Leaders’ AXIS has built its enduring impact through years of sustain engagement, fostering the relationships and collective ambition that drive continued industry progress.”
Bocar BA, CEO of the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, said:
“Oman has a wide economic and digital development landscape, and it is a pleasure that one of the SAMENA Council’s Board Members, Omantel, is a central part of the opportunity that this landscape holds. SAMENA Council Leaders’ AXIS is intended to bring the relevant institutions, investors, infrastructure players, technology companies, and industry stakeholders into digital development and investment conversation. AXIS is an effort by the SAMENA Council to show how Oman can translate its infrastructure strengths and strategic position into greater investment, capability, partnerships, and economic activity within the Sultanate, and the region.”
For Omantel, Host Sponsorship reflects the company’s central role in Oman’s telecommunications and digital ecosystem and the AXIS conference’s emphasis on translating infrastructure strengths into broader national and investment value.
That proposition is increasingly reflected in how Omantel is developing its own digital ecosystem. Through Zain Omantel International (ZOI), its strategic joint venture with Zain, the company is bringing together the two groups’ subsea and terrestrial networks, cloud infrastructure and data center assets to serve carriers, hyperscalers, enterprises and public sector organizations across the region. Omantel and Zain are also advancing a carrier-neutral regional data center strategy across their footprint, building on their combined geographic reach and infrastructure to support the region’s growing connectivity, cloud and data requirements.
AI is adding another dimension to that investment landscape. Omantel continues to invest in 5G, core-network cloudification, international connectivity and digital and AI capabilities as it prepares for telecom networks in which AI plays a greater role in network operations, service delivery and how consumers and enterprises use connectivity. These investments provide the foundations for networks that are increasingly software-driven and able to support AI-ready and cloud-native workloads, while enabling greater use of AI-enabled services.
Alongside infrastructure and network investment, Omantel is using its Innovation Labs to help develop technology companies and digital capabilities from within Oman. Since 2021, the Labs has supported more than 100 technology startups, including companies developing applications across AI, enterprise services, cybersecurity and data analytics. Beyond funding and acceleration, the program provides startups with access to technical expertise, industry networks and potential investors, while partnerships with technology and industry players are creating routes for Omani startups to enter larger regional markets and build businesses that can grow from Oman across the region.
The AXIS conference will place particular attention on the relationship between digital infrastructure growth and energy. As data centers, AI compute, cloud infrastructure, networks, landing stations, and related facilities expand, reliable and sustainable energy becomes part of the investment equation itself. The closing leadership discussion will therefore consider renewable-energy opportunities, Omantel’s Net Zero work, and the potential for a Muscat Framework for Cross-Infrastructure Sustainability and Renewable Energy.
The Space and Satellite Investment Dialogue will position satellite connectivity within Oman’s wider digital and economic development environment, addressing mobile satellite services, ground infrastructure, data services, downstream applications, and the roles of national and international stakeholders in developing commercially relevant opportunities.
Across the program, Leaders’ AXIS 2026 will connect five principal areas: investment and economic diversification; connected digital infrastructure; AI, compute and national digital capability; space, satellite and future connectivity; and renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure. The common focus is on investment, infrastructure, technology, partnerships, and regional growth. The SAMENA Council sees this Muscat conference as a setting for stronger institutional engagement, partnership development, project framing, and investment-facing communication around Oman’s digital development priorities.
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About Omantel
Omantel has succeeded, through the integration of its operations, processes, and extensive expertise in the field of communications and digital technology, in establishing its position as a leading telecommunications company within the Sultanate of Oman and beyond. The company's innovative approaches have contributed to providing state-of-the-art solutions to different consumer and business sectors. The company aims to deliver an unparalleled, exceptional experience to its customers and strives to always exceed their expectations. To achieve the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, Omantel invests in emerging technologies and provides cutting-edge ICT solutions, such as cloud solutions, AI, Smart solutions, cybersecurity, and much more, in addition to harnessing its technological capabilities to enhance innovation and leadership in new and advanced technologies.
Source: SAMENA Council Press Release
