Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Muscat: A high-profile delegation from Oman, led by H. E. Dr. Hamed bin Salim Al Rawahi, Executive President of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, travelled to the United Kingdom with the aim of leading the way towards the implementation of 5G in the Sultanate.
The team of officials included Ooredoo CEO, Ian Dench, Omantel VP of Operations Eng. Said Abdullah Al Ajmi, senior representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Oman Broadband Company, Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, Suhar Municipality, Muscat Municipality and Dhofar Municipality.
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The visit was organised in conjunction with the British Embassy, covering four key function areas: regulatory, government, implementation and investment. The delegation met with Ofcom, the UK’s regulator for the communications services, to gain an insight into how it is managing the introduction of 5G from a regulatory perspective.
The party also visited several key government representatives in charge of issuing licenses for the installation of telecoms towers and antennas to hear about their experience in getting ready for the introduction of the new technology.
The group also went to a number of 5G trial sites to see how they are being coordinated and conducted at a grassroots level. This included a trip to the 5G Innovation Centre in Surrey to explore whether a similar initiative could be launched in Oman.
Representatives from the party also met with various UK vendors involved with 5G related activities to explore future collaboration and partnership opportunities.
Commenting on the trip, Ian Dench, Ooredoo CEO said, “We are very excited about bringing our 5G Supernet to Oman. Having just obtained our 5G spectrum, we are already exploring the implementation of operational trials, including urban testing. And in just the last few days, Ooredoo Group successfully trialled the first International 5G call in the Arab World. This collaborative trip allowed us to gain expertise on 5G trails experiences, from industry leaders who have already been through the process.”
Eng. Yousef Al Balushi, Vice President for Spectrum Affairs at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority added, “With 5G expected to hit the market in the near future, we are working together with industry leaders both in Oman and abroad to ensure we are ready. This tour was a fantastic opportunity for us to gain some insight, share knowledge and ultimately create a better way to keep everyone connected.”
Eng Said Abdullah Al Ajmi, vice president of Operations Unit at Omantel said, “We conducted several successful trials and live 5G tests throughout the past two years while preparing Omantel transmission and access networks for the anticipated commercial launch of 5G later this year. This visit provided us with a valuable opportunity to learn more about global 5G experiences and network with relevant stakeholders in the UK”.
