Page 94 - SAMENA Trends - July-September 2024

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and telecommunications services, 53.7% to mobile services, and
Investment Promotion (MOCIIP), Riyada, the Ministry of Labour, 9.3% to other services. In its annual report, the TRA highlighted
and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), the the launch of 12 public consultation documents in 2023. These
system automates seven essential services related to regulatory documents were part of efforts to involve beneficiaries and
obligations. These include permit application submissions and stakeholders, ensuring that the regulatory environment remains
significant reductions in the documentation required for obtaining flexible and responsive to industry developments. The report also
licenses. revealed that beneficiaries filed 2,972 grievances in 2023, broken
The system enhances efficiency across three licensing categories: down as follows: 1,860 complaints related to billing, 831 concerned
• The first category sees a 77 percent automation in accepting service quality, 111 involved promotional offers, and 170 were
and issuing licenses. about numbers. Throughout 2023, the telecommunications
• The second category has reduced required documents from 17 sector expanded broadband coverage across Oman. The number
to just 4. of fifth-generation (5G) stations reached 5,238, while fiber optic
• The third category achieves an automation rate of approximately networks now cover 773,589 residential units. Additionally, the
76 percent. total number of valid communications permits issued in 2023
Additionally, the system fully automates applications for private stood at 377, which included licenses for tracking and geolocation
communications networks intended for personal use and not services, Internet of Things (IoT) services, and the implementation
connected to the public network. Applications for exploiting and of communications services, among others. The TRA also issued
accessing inactive infrastructure have also seen documentation licenses to 15 new companies providing postal services, bringing
reduced by 100 percent. This streamlined approach not the total to 63 licensed companies in the sector by 2023. This
only simplifies and accelerates the application process but growth has resulted in over 1,624 new job opportunities, with
also provides clearer information to applicants, significantly 1,223 positions filled by Omanis. The year 2023 marked several
enhancing service resolution and reducing bureaucratic hurdles. significant accomplishments for Oman’s telecommunications
The initiative is part of Oman’s ongoing efforts to foster a more sector. The TRA was recognized among the top government units
efficient and accessible telecommunications sector. (September 27, for the year, achieved high scores in the “Institutional Excellence
2024) www.meatechwatch.com System” indicators, and received multiple awards, including
the Digital Government Award for the Best Digital Community
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has initiated Participation Project from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
a public consultation to address the growing issue of spam and The authority also won the Excellence Award in Enabling Market
scam messages affecting consumers in Oman. The increase in Growth from the SAMENA Telecommunications Council and the
unsolicited messages has led to heightened user frustration Best Institution Achieving Government Digital Transformation
and a rise in complaints. To tackle this problem, TRA plans to Award as part of the Digital Excellence Award in the Government
introduce new regulations that all telecommunications service Sector for 2024. (September 5, 2024) www.meatechwatch.com
providers must adhere to. These regulations will implement
measures to safeguard users from scam messages, establish The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, in collaboration
contracting procedures for licensees with SMS aggregators, and with licensed telecommunications providers, has announced
regulate the handling of spam and scam messages. Penalties the commencement of a phased discontinuation plan for third-
for non-compliance will also be outlined. “Given the rising generation (3G) mobile services, starting from July. This strategic
concerns about cybersecurity, it’s crucial for stakeholders to move aims to optimize telecommunications offerings, allocate
invest in better technology to protect end users,” said TRA, noting spectrum resources efficiently, and invest in cutting-edge
ongoing collaboration with other entities in Oman to strengthen technologies to enhance service quality. The transition will be
cybersecurity efforts. Additionally, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) implemented gradually to ensure a smooth shift. This decision
has been urging mobile users to stay cautious, as fraudsters underscores the increasing importance of modern technologies
continue to target individuals globally and within Oman, often in telecommunications and the need to effectively utilize available
exploiting them for financial gain through various scam methods. resources to align with global technological advancements,
(September 10, 2024) www.meatechwatch.com thereby facilitating digital transformation. Moreover, this initiative
reflects the rapid evolution of the global telecommunications
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has sector, prompting investments in state-of-the-art technologies.
reported that total investments in Oman’s telecommunications As less efficient networks are phased out, subscribers can expect
sector reached RO221.9 million in 2023. This investment was enhanced service quality and a superior user experience with
distributed across various services, with 37% allocated to fixed advanced and innovative networks. (July 1, 2024) www.omanobserver.om

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