Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) announced the formation of a dedicated division focused on delivering Information Communication Technology (ICT) services to public and private sector clients across the Sultanate.
The division offers clients unprecedented opportunity for comprehensive technology solutions, made possible by Omantel’s leading global partnerships and expansive network infrastructure. The formation of the new division aligns with Omantel’s vision to bridge the digital divide, roll-out smart technology and launch innovative business and e-Government services, accelerating Oman’s ascension towards better ICT preparedness and global standings.
Commenting on the formation of the ICT division, Omantel CEO Talal Al Mamari noted, “We are pleased to unveil Omantel ICT, a newly formed division that enables Omantel to act as the single point of contact for integrated ICT solutions including connectivity and next generation smart technologies. The division will conduct work integral to achieving the ICT objectives set out by the wise government of His Majesty, including the development of digital society, and to use the latest technologies to drive innovation, enable economic diversification and to support the nation’s development march.”
“The new division offers unparalleled ICT solutions to clients across the Sultanate, strengthening our role as the leader of the digital awakening within Oman. The division is actively engaged in the roll-out of a number of strategic digital platforms across multiple vital segments of business and society,” he added.
The rapid convergence of technologies as well as the customers’ evermore entangled requirements blur the lines and invite more integrated solutions that relieve fragmentation challenges on the side of the customer while promising better commercial efficiencies brought about from the economies of scale of such offerings.
The overall strategy for Omantel ICT underlines how the regional economy is undergoing a massive change driven by digital transformation.
For companies, their ICT systems are shifting from being isolated support systems to becoming mission-critical production systems that support efficient production, operation, and decision-making. To succeed in this new era, organizations are embracing new ICT tools including Cloud, Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Software-Defined Networking.
Companies are increasingly focusing on opportunities across a cloud-pipe-device architecture to accelerate their digital transformation plans. The new division encompasses all these technologies, creating a new ecosystem that completely integrates ICT infrastructure providers and industry partners to create greater value for organisations and companies in the Sultanate.
Leading the new division is Eng. Fadi Nasser, a Silicon Valley veteran and formerly the chief alliances officer at regional leading ICT provider.
Speaking about the benefits the new division offers, Nasser mentioned, “With the establishment of the new division, ICT solutions are now consolidated onto locally owned and operated platformsandthat clients no longer need to invest in their own ICT infrastructure and applications including the costly constant upkeep of underlying technologies and management of security threats. By partnering with Omantel ICT, our clients become free to focus on their core business without undue distraction.”
A recently published study from the American research and advisory firm Gartner points to Middle East IT spending reaching $212.9bn in 2016, which represents a 3.7 per cent increase from 2015.
The report notes the continued growth in the Middle East IT sector is being driven by rapid uptake in the digital business arena, and an environment increasingly driven by an interconnected world.
The substantial industrial refocusing to generate new economic development beyond the oil industry, with deepening smart cities initiatives and adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), is identified as a high priority in the region. This demand is also prioritizing development for smart city solutions in education, transportation, safety and health.
“At Omantel, we also have the ability to leverage existing networks and our cutting edge facilities right here in the Sultanate, resulting in improved access performance and guaranteed data jurisdiction, a critical advantage over ICT platforms which are based abroad. Additionally, given Omantel’s size and market standing, we partner with major international technology providers in order to offer our clients some of the world’s latest Tier-1integrated solutions. By choosing Omantel for their complete ICT solution, customers also have the opportunity to benefit from economy of scale principles, to receive better value and advantageous commercial models,” concluded Fadi Nasser.
Investing in the future of the nation, Omantel connects even the most remote communities of the Sultanate to each other and the rest of the world. Omantel is the Sultanate’s first and leading integrated telecommunications services provider, enabling the digital society to flourish, allowing new ways of doing business and delivering a world of information, news and entertainment. Today, Omantel boldly innovates to deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction, the broadest and most reliable nationwide network while investing for Oman’s future development.