**H1**. OmanSat: A New Challenger in the Telecommunication Services Sector
In a significant development for the Sultanate of Oman’s telecommunication services sector, a new competitor has emerged with the issuance of Royal Decree 40/2025. This decree granted a Category 1 license to the Satellite Communications Technologies Company (OmanSat) to provide fixed public communication services. The license allows OmanSat to establish and operate satellite communication systems to offer broadband Internet services, satellite connectivity services for communication stations, and multiple options for beneficiaries in rural areas. This move is expected to enhance the country’s telecommunication infrastructure and provide better connectivity options to the population. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has issued this license, which is similar to the one provided to established players like Omantel, Ooredoo, Vodafone, Awasar, and Starlink. The Class 1 license is granted to companies that build their own networks and provide services. Some key aspects of the license include:

• Broadband Internet services
• Satellite connectivity services for communication stations
• Multiple options for beneficiaries in rural areas

OmanSat, the new company, is not a new player in the market. It was established in 2018 as a government enterprise to spearhead the national satellite program initiative. The company had previously been under the Oman Broadband Company, but now it has its separate license to provide satellite services. The significance of OmanSat’s presence in the market cannot be overstated. Satellite services are crucial for providing connectivity to remote and inaccessible areas, which can be costly and challenging to achieve with traditional infrastructure. In the event of an outage in the fixed service network, satellite services can step in as a solution for emergency situations. “The most important aspect is providing services to remote villages of the Sultanate of Oman,” said Mahmood Omar al Zadjali, acting executive manager of the Strategic Planning unit at the TRA. “Satellite services are the latest trend because they offer better quality and high speed to the end-users.”
OmanSat will now be responsible for announcing the launch of its products and services, including various packages and pricing. As a new company, OmanSat has flexibility in setting its own prices and tariffs. When compared to Starlink, OmanSat does not own any satellites but has agreements to lease bandwidth from satellites. However, in the future, it may have its own satellite and provide services based on that infrastructure. **h2**. Key Highlights of OmanSat’s License

OmanSat’s license is expected to bring about significant changes to the telecommunication sector in Oman. As a new competitor, OmanSat will have to navigate the market and establish itself as a player. However, with its focus on providing satellite services to remote areas, OmanSat has the potential to make a positive impact on the country’s telecommunication infrastructure. “The significance of this particular is that satellite services are important because they can reach faraway and inaccessible remote places, which is costly and sometimes impossible with the traditional infrastructure for terrestrial or fixed network,” said Al Zadjali. OmanSat’s presence in the market is a welcome development for the country, and it will be interesting to see how the company establishes itself in the market. OmanSat’s Background
OmanSat was established in 2018 as a government enterprise to spearhead the national satellite program initiative. “OmanSat is not a new company, but a government enterprise that was established in 2018 to spearhead the national satellite program initiative,” said Al Zadjali. “They did not have a license before it was under the Oman Broadband Company, but now they have their separate license, and they can provide the satellite services, which include that they have the satellite or lease the satellite bandwidth and resell to other companies.”
OmanSat’s focus is on providing satellite services to remote areas, which is expected to be a key area of focus for the company. “When compared to Starlink, OmanSat does not own any satellites but has agreements to lease bandwidth from satellites,” said Al Zadjali. “That is the difference. But in the future, it may have its own satellite and provide the services based on that infrastructure.”
The comparison between OmanSat and Starlink is an interesting one, and it will be worth watching how the two companies establish themselves in the market. In conclusion, OmanSat’s license is a significant development for the telecommunication sector in Oman.