The Sultanate of Oman’s telecommunications sector is experiencing a period of robust expansion, with recent data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) painting a picture of sustained growth through October 2025. This positive trend indicates a rapidly evolving digital landscape within the country, driven by increasing demand for mobile services, data connectivity, and emerging technologies like the Internet of Things. The latest statistics reveal significant increases across multiple segments, signaling strong investment and adoption.
Oman Telecommunications Sector Growth: A Comprehensive Overview
The NCSI data provides a detailed look at the various components driving this expansion in Oman’s telecommunications sector. Overall, the figures demonstrate a consumer base increasingly reliant on, and connected by, modern communication tools. This growth isn’t uniform; some technologies are surging while others are experiencing decline, reflecting shifting consumer preferences and infrastructure developments.
Mobile Subscription Surge
By the end of October 2025, the total number of mobile service subscriptions in Oman reached an impressive 8,045,400. This represents a substantial 11.3% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. A deeper dive reveals contrasting trends within the mobile market itself.
- Postpaid Growth: Active postpaid mobile subscriptions saw a moderate, yet consistent, increase of 1.9%, reaching 1,260,429. This suggests growing adoption of contract-based mobile plans, likely fueled by bundled data offerings and attractive pricing structures.
- Prepaid Dominance & Growth: Prepaid subscriptions remain the dominant force, accounting for the majority of mobile users. They experienced a healthy 3.0% rise, now totaling 5,200,770 subscribers. This demonstrates continued accessibility and affordability for a large segment of the population.
- Mobile Broadband Expansion: Active mobile broadband subscriptions climbed to 5,432,686, indicating a consistent shift towards data-intensive mobile usage.
The Rise of the Internet of Things (IoT)
One of the most striking trends highlighted in the NCSI data is the remarkable growth of the Internet of Things (IoT). Subscriptions to IoT services, also known as machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, skyrocketed by 68.0%, reaching 1,584,201 by October 2025.
This dramatic increase underscores Oman’s commitment to digital transformation and the growing implementation of IoT solutions across various industries, including logistics, oil & gas, and smart city initiatives. The proliferation of connected devices – from sensors monitoring infrastructure to vehicles providing real-time data – is a critical aspect of Oman’s Vision 2040, which emphasizes technological innovation.
Fixed Broadband Landscape: Fiber Takes the Lead
The fixed broadband market is also experiencing significant change, albeit at a more measured pace than the mobile sector. Overall, active fixed broadband subscriptions increased by 3.6% to 595,692. However, this headline figure masks crucial shifts in the underlying technologies.
- Fiber-to-the-Home/Building (FTTH/B) Dominance: Subscriptions to FTTH/B services witnessed substantial growth, increasing by 12.4% to 351,432. This confirms fiber as the preferred technology for high-speed home and business internet, offering superior performance and reliability.
- 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Gains: While modest, fixed 5G subscriptions edged up by 0.5% reaching 219,751. This suggests early adoption, particularly in areas where fiber deployment is challenging or costly.
- Declining Legacy Technologies: Older technologies are decidedly on the decline. Fixed 4G subscriptions saw a sharp 51.3% fall, now representing only 12,621 subscriptions. Similarly, ADSL subscriptions dropped by 37.9% to 10,237, demonstrating a clear move away from these less capable platforms. This transition to newer technologies is linked to significant investment in national infrastructure.
Implications for Oman’s Digital Future & Network Infrastructure
The consistent growth demonstrated in Oman’s telecommunications sector has wide-ranging implications. Not only does it demonstrate increasing digital literacy and adoption among citizens and businesses, but it also signifies a thriving economy attracting investment in network infrastructure.
The decline of older technologies like 4G and ADSL, while expected, highlights the importance of continued investment in future-proofed solutions like fiber optic networks and 5G. The surge in IoT subscriptions specifically demands robust and scalable connectivity infrastructure to support the ever-increasing number of connected devices.
Satellite internet subscriptions are seeing an increase (35.5% to 904) along with other internet subscriptions falling (11.0% to 747) a possible indication that satellite is covering remote areas not easily serviced by other technologies.
This growth also creates opportunities for innovation and the development of new digital services, bolstering Oman’s competitiveness on the global stage.
Concluding Thoughts on Oman’s Connectivity Boom
The data released by the NCSI clearly indicates a dynamic and expanding telecommunications sector in Oman. From substantial growth in mobile subscriptions and the explosive adoption of IoT to the shift towards fiber-optic broadband, the trends suggest a nation embracing digital transformation.
These developments are critical not only for enhancing connectivity but also for driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and improving the quality of life for all Omanis. To sustain this momentum, continued investment in network infrastructure, supportive regulatory policies, and initiatives that promote digital literacy will be essential.
For a deeper understanding of Oman’s economic indicators, further resources can be found on the NCSI website https://www.ncsi.gov.om/. What further innovations do you believe will shape the future of telecommunications in Oman? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
