Oman’s telecom sector is growing fast, thanks to a nationwide push to modernise digital services and infrastructure. By May this year, mobile subscriptions had climbed to 8.13 million in the country, while IoT connections jumped to 1.55 million – a 118.7% increase compared to last year. The figures, shared by Oman’s National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), show how digital tech is gaining ground in areas like logistics, utilities, and manufacturing.
The growth ties closely to Oman Vision 2040, a long-term national plan focused on economic diversity and better public services. As part of that push, the country is expanding its fibre optic networks and rolling out more fixed 5G connections – key steps in building faster, more reliable internet access.
Market research firm Mordor Intelligence attributes much of the momentum to strong public investment. In 2022 the government launched a $441.5 million digital transformation programme aimed at upgrading public services and making them more accessible online.
That effort falls under the broader Digital Economy Program, which has set some ambitious goals. The plan is to raise the digital economy’s share of GDP from 3% in 2025 to 5% by 2030, eventually hitting 10% by 2040. Mordor Intelligence says the government aims to digitise around 80% of its services by 2025.
There are already signs that things are moving in that direction. NCSI data published by the Oman News Agency shows postpaid mobile subscriptions grew by 5.6% year-over-year to 1.23 million by the end of May. Prepaid mobile plans were up 3.1%, reaching over 5.33 million.
Mobile broadband use continues to rise too, with subscriptions hitting 5.41 million. Fixed broadband saw a modest 2.6% increase year-on-year, reaching about 588,000 subscriptions. In that group, fibre optic services grew more than 11%, now totalling over 339,000 connections.
Older services are being phased out. Fixed 4G subscriptions dropped sharply – down more than 38% to around 19,600. Digital user lines were cut in half, and satellite internet use slipped slightly. Other services like powerline internet and leased lines continue to shrink, with fewer than 800 users in the country.
All of this is part of a bigger transformation effort led by the government’s Tahawul program. By November, it had reached 73% of its performance targets – up from 53% the year before. The programme aims to digitise more public services and improve how citizens interact with government agencies.
Four major government bodies, including the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, have already hit what’s being called “digital excellence.” The government has also built large-scale platforms like a unified e-government portal and the National Digital Integration Platform, which has processed over 1.4 billion data transactions so far.
Digital services are clearly catching on. Oman recorded nearly 27 million digital government transactions in 2024. If things stay on track, 80% of essential government services will be fully available online by 2025.
While many countries are still figuring out how to approach digital transformation, Oman appears to be well into execution. Public infrastructure projects, expanding internet access, and strong policy backing have all played a role. The rapid rise in IoT and broadband connections shows that the private sector is moving in step with the public sector.
With continued investment and clear targets in place, Oman is setting itself up for a tech-forward future – one where fast internet, smart services, and digital tools are becoming a normal part of everyday life.
(Photo by Gilles Gravier)
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