Page 59 - SAMENA Trends - August-September 2025

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Oman Lens to Launch Second High-Resolution Satellite by 2026

Oman Lens has announced plans to launch its second satellite
by 2026, building on the success of its first AI-powered optical
satellite, OL-1. The upcoming satellite will feature sharper imaging
with a 50-centimeter resolution, significantly advancing Oman’s
space technology capabilities under Oman Vision 2040. OL-1,
launched in November 2024, became Oman’s first optical satellite
registered with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
With its one-meter resolution, OL-1 provides real-time spatial data
and imagery to support urban planning, environmental monitoring,
and resource management. The new satellite will expand these
capabilities by delivering clearer Earth observation data to monitor
infrastructure, track urban growth, and support sustainable
development initiatives. Oman Lens confirmed that this launch
is part of a larger plan to deploy a constellation of 20 satellites,
aimed at equipping government bodies, private enterprises, and
research institutions with advanced geospatial intelligence. The
initiative underscores Oman’s ambition to strengthen its presence
in the global space sector while driving national innovation and
sustainable development.

Iraq Plans More Submarine Cable Landings at Al-Faw

There’s been a flurry of submarine cable deals in Iraq recently, of submarine cable deals in Iraq recently, including two contracts
including two contracts announced, one with Batelco and the announced, one with Batelco and the other involving a company
other involving a company called Breeze Investments. In the latest called Breeze Investments. In the latest announcement, Iraq’s
announcement, Iraq’s Minister of Communications Hiyam Al-Yasiri Minister of Communications Hiyam Al-Yasiri has reportedly signed
has reportedly signed a contract to land a new submarine cable in a contract to land a new submarine cable in the Southern Al-Faw
the Southern Al-Faw Peninsula with Bahraini telecoms company Peninsula with Bahraini telecoms company Batelco by Beyon. The
Batelco by Beyon. The contract is Iraq's sixth submarine cable contract is Iraq's sixth submarine cable at the Al-Faw station and,
at the Al-Faw station and, the Minister pointed out, by signing the Minister pointed out, by signing this contract, Iraq has entered
this contract, Iraq has entered into submarine and transit cable into submarine and transit cable contracts with all the countries of
contracts with all the countries of the Arabian Gulf. The contract the Arabian Gulf. The contract will be executed in late 2026 or early
will be executed in late 2026 or early 2027. It reportedly has a 2027. It reportedly has a large capacity, although precise details
large capacity, although precise details were not given. It extends were not given. It extends from Singapore, passing through Bahrain
from Singapore, passing through Bahrain and other stations in and other stations in some Arab countries, ending in Iraq. But that’s
some Arab countries, ending in Iraq. But that’s not all. Earlier, it not all. Earlier, it was reported that the same ministry had signed
was reported that the same ministry had signed a contract with a contract with UAE-based Breeze Investments to land Iraq's fifth
UAE-based Breeze Investments to land Iraq's fifth submarine cable submarine cable at Al-Faw. The project, carried out in cooperation
at Al-Faw. The project, carried out in cooperation with the State with the State Company for Communications and Informatics, is
Company for Communications and Informatics, is described as a described as a strategic step to strengthen Iraq's position as a
strategic step to strengthen Iraq's position as a regional and global regional and global hub for data and international communications
hub for data and international communications traffic, linking traffic, linking through Iraq and Turkey to Europe. Breeze has also
through Iraq and Turkey to Europe. Breeze has also been authorized been authorized to establish a terrestrial transit network under
to establish a terrestrial transit network under the name World Link, the name World Link, although there is little available information
although there is little available information about either entity. about either entity. Iraq’s cable connections with the rest of the
Iraq’s cable connections with the rest of the world are clearly a world are clearly a strong focus of late. We reported earlier this
strong focus of late. We reported earlier this year that Qatar-based year that Qatar-based Ooredoo Group had signed a landing party
Ooredoo Group had signed a landing party agreement with Iraqi agreement with Iraqi Telecommunications and Post Company
Telecommunications and Post Company (ITPC) to land Ooredoo’s (ITPC) to land Ooredoo’s planned Fiber in Gulf (FIG) subsea cable
planned Fiber in Gulf (FIG) subsea cable in Iraq. The FIG cable aims in Iraq. The FIG cable aims to connect all six countries in the Gulf
to connect all six countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council – Qatar, Cooperation Council – Qatar, Oman, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia
Oman, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait – and Iraq with and Kuwait – and Iraq with 720 Tbps of capacity across 24 fiber
720 Tbps of capacity across 24 fiber pairs. There’s been a flurry pairs.

59 AUG-SEP 2025