Oman government has attached a special emphasis on extending telecommunication services to people living in remote areas.
The regulatory authorities have made it mandatory for telecommunication service providers to offer telecommunication service through wireless local loops (WLLs) in less populated remote areas.
Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) offers telecommunication service to 20,000 people living in different interior places spread across the country.
“We are in greater need than ever before for providing the remotest areas in the Sultanate with premium mobile phone and internet services, in addition to eliminating digital illiteracy so as to enable all individuals of the society to acquire electronic services and benefit from the better services offered in such fields as health care, education, as well as means of obtaining information and knowledge,” said Salim Al Ruzaiki, chief executive officer of Information Technology Authority (ITA). He was addressing a function to mark the World Telecommunication and Information Society day here.