Telecoms & IT
From The Report: Oman 2015
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Major investment in the telecoms and IT sector from both the public and private sectors has expanded coverage in Oman, with the number of pre-paid mobile subscribers reaching 5.37m in the first half of 2014. The government has recognised the potential of a vibrant IT sector and in line with its objective to diversify the economy away from hydrocarbons has marked the development of the sector as a key part of the Vision 2020 strategy. In an effort to transition many of its services online as part of its e-government initiative, the government had, as of September 2014, trained 90,000 employees in IT skills and awareness. Meanwhile, the Information Technology Authority (ITA) has adopted an incubation approach with efforts to encourage funding of IT start-ups from banks, venture capital funds and others while government guarantees regarding protection of IP rights in the sultanate are expected to attract further investment from international companies. This chapter contains an interview with Salim Sultan Al Razaiqi, CEO, Information Technology Authority.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

The government’s sectoral strategy is entering a new phase
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A key pillar of Vision 2020, Oman’s long-term development programme, the telecommunications and IT sector in the sultanate has seen major investment in recent years, both from government and the private sector alike. The industry stands on the cusp of a new era in its development, with fresh programmes and plans set to unfold in the months ahead. Under a new five-year plan and Vision 2040, revised targets will be set and a further rollout of services is due to take place. “Oman cannot afford…

Interview

Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO, Information Technology Authority: Interview
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Interview:Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi Where can technology play the biggest role in the progress of Vision 2020? How much emphasis is given to ICT in the planning of Vision 2040? SALIM SULTAN AL RUZAIQI: In today’s world, technology must be integrated into the master plans across all sectors. The transport and logistics sector, for example, cannot reach its full potential without ICT. If we do not prepare ourselves as a country to absorb technology in a broad way, we will be unable to achieve…

Overview

The rollout of training and new infrastructure to see increased IT uptake
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A key part of the strategy outlined in Vision 2020, the sultanate’s long-term development programme, is the widening and deepening of the country’s IT sector. This is seen by the government as very much part of the effort to diversify the economy away from oil and gas dependency, offering future generations of Omanis the chance to participate in a high value-added, creative and innovative global industry. Indeed, the Vision explicitly states that its development strategy is to be based in part…