Aug 26 2010 |
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Oman: Broadband Internet has scope for growth
MUSCAT: Growth potential in telecommunication sector exists in broadband Internet service, rather than in traditional services like mobile service, said senior officials who attended an open forum organised by Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( OCCI )."Now the opportunity is in broadband Internet service," said Ross Cormack, CEO of Nawras .
Cormack said that the mobile penetration level in the country is now ruling at 148 per cent, which is against 37 per cent when Nawras started its service in 2005.
The total number of mobile customers touched 4.21 million by end-March, 2010, which compares with 3.35 million subscribers and a penetration level of 122 per cent for the same period last year, according to the latest statistics released by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).
TRA said the share of MVNOs, who are generally known as resellers, in the mobile market moved up from 6.04 per cent by end-December 2009 to 7.1 per cent by end-March 2010.
Cormack said that for every 10 per cent growth in mobile penetration, there will be one per cent growth in the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
Similarly, for every 10 per cent growth in broadband penetration, the incremental growth in GDP is estimated at 1.2 per cent, which is against an earlier estimate of 0.7 per cent.
Nawras investment
Cormack said that his company has invested heavily for building 2,500km of telecom backbone network. Nawras has invested half billion rials for developing infrastructure and training people over a five-year period.
As much as 54-57 per cent of households in the country have coverage through Nawras ' WiMAX technology network for fixed lines and broadband services.
Responding to a question on high roaming rates in the country, Eng Naashiah S Al Kharusi, member of Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, said that Oman has the least number of visitors from Gulf countries.
"We will try to reduce roaming rates."
Khalil bin Abdullah Al Khonji, chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Dr Amer Awadh Al Rawas, chief executive officer of Oman Telecommunications Company also attended the open forum.
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