Reduce inequality within and among countries
Engineering at Omantel underpins a digital ecosystem designed to expand participation across Oman’s economy. As the Sultanate advances its Oman Vision 2040 objectives, digital infrastructure has become a structural enabler of diversification and productivity. Sustained investment in fibre expansion, nationwide 5G deployment and secure digital platforms strengthen the foundations upon which institutions, enterprises, and communities operate.
High-capacity connectivity beyond primary urban centres enables schools, healthcare facilities, government services, and small businesses to integrate into the digital economy. Cloud capabilities and cybersecurity frameworks support organizations as they modernize operations and improve service delivery.
“Inclusion must be engineered into the system,” says Samy Al Ghassany, Chief Commercial and Operating Officer at Omantel. “It is realized when connectivity allows institutions, enterprises, and communities to participate fully in the digital economy, without structural barriers.” The digital path is therefore defined not only by network reach, but by the capability it unlocks across sectors and regions.
Oman’s strategic location has been reinforced through sustained investment in international digital infrastructure. Omantel has invested in over 20 subsea cable systems, supported by multiple landing stations across the sultanate, positioning Oman as a digital corridor connecting Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. This diversified footprint enhances route redundancy and enables ultra-low latency connectivity across major global hubs, supporting cloud platforms, financial systems, and enterprise applications.
International connectivity is complemented by carrier-neutral data center infrastructure. Facilities such as MC1 in Muscat and SN1 in Salalah, operated in partnership with Equinix, provide open interconnection environments for global carriers and hyperscalers. Zain Omantel International manages the company’s wholesale operations, integrating subsea capacity, terrestrial networks and interconnection infrastructure to deliver end-to-end international services across multiple markets. This diversified backbone strengthens resilience and reinforces Oman’s position within global digital value chains.
Engineering inclusion extends beyond infrastructure to the way people access information. Omantel introduced Maqroo, the world’s first Arabic dyslexia friendly typeface, developed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia. Through analysis of Arabic letterforms and spacing, the font enhances clarity and supports more accessible learning environments. Inclusive engineering addresses not only connectivity gaps, but also barriers that affect how people engage with digital content.
A sustainable digital future depends on resilience, efficiency, and long-term value creation. Aligned with Vision 2040, Omantel integrates infrastructure expansion with operational efficiency and responsible governance. Investments in energy-efficient networks and scalable platforms support economic diversification while managing long-term impact. “The infrastructure choices we make today define tomorrow’s efficiency,” says Al Ghassany. “Resilience, optimization and responsible scaling are built into operational design, not added later.” A future-ready ecosystem must support growth while maintaining stability.
Omantel’s international roaming network includes around 700 operators in more than 200 countries across the globe.
