Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 115 | Page 46

COUNTRY FOCUS: OMAN
Oman is building its ICT infrastructure to reduce the digital divide through its National Broadband Strategy, which envisions providing high-speed broadband service to the population. Oman has launched a digital transformation programme with an estimated investment of $ 442 million to improve government e-services. Oman businesses are increasingly migrating toward cloud computing, creating commercial opportunities to establish data centres.

Transforming the national digital landscape

Panoramic view of Muscat’ s fast changing urbanscape

Vision 2040, Oman’ s long-term development plan, calls for the enhancement of national technical capabilities, the construction of vital ICT infrastructure, and the improvement of e-government services. The government has prioritised the development of ICT and the sector is well positioned for growth in the years ahead.

The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, oversees national IT infrastructure projects and e-government initiatives. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority provides considerable oversight and policy guidance, most notably in the deployment of Oman’ s 5G networks. The Oman Technology Fund has invested in local companies that developed online auction, marketplace, and teaching platforms.
According to US based, International Trade Administration, Oman is building its ICT infrastructure to reduce the digital divide through its National Broadband Strategy, which envisions providing high-speed broadband service to 95 percent of the population by 2024.
The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology manages the government network and cloud and is heading efforts to increase e-government services. In 2022, the Ministry launched a digital transformation programme with an estimated investment of $ 442 million to improve government e-services and digital infrastructure.
Growth in e-commerce is increasing the demand for cloud services and data centres, along with
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