27/07/2022
Public Consultation on New Licensing Framework for Telecommunications
Brief:
Telecommunications
Regulatory Authority (TRA) aims to update the regulatory framework to go in a
line with the Sultanate`s strategy in simplifying the procedures, to attract
investing & to enhance competition. TRA has started reviewing
telecommunications service licensing framework stipulated on the Telecom Act,
where Article (20) states that No person is permitted to either establish or
operate a Telecommunications system, nor provide telecommunications services,
unless after obtaining a license from the Authority. Article (21) stipulates
the number of public telecommunications services licenses categories.
Therefore,
in order to keep pace with the rapid development in the telecommunications
sector, it is important that telecommunications licensing framework should be
in accordance with the best international practices that contribute in the
development of this vital sector. As a result, TRA is announcing a public
consultation for the amendment of telecom services licensing framework based on
the suggestion provided in the public consultations document.
TRA
invites & urges all interested parties to provide their written comments
& remarks on the consultancy document.
The
Project Objective:
1. Develop the
telecommunications services licenses framework to remove challenges that stand
against obtaining telecommunications licenses.
2. Speed up
licensing application procedures
3. Prepare a new
license form for the current licenses
4. Review licensing
fees.
Project
Targets:
1. Classify New
licenses in term of rights, obligations, resources available for each
class.
2. Determine the
licensed service & service exempted from licensing obligations.
3. Determine new
license categories fees.
4. Determine the transformation
mechanism to the new licenses framework.
Response
Deadline:
Kindly, send
your responses regarding the document not later than 28 October 2022.
Submitting
way:
A letter
addressed to Telecommunication Regulatory Authority; indicating the person`s
Name /entity`s name responsible to reply via social media including address,
phone number & E-mail.
Or
Send E-copy
or hard copy to the following address
TRA Premises,
Airport Heights
Seeb, Muscat
Governate
Telecommunication
regulatory Authority
P. O. Box
355, P C 111
Seeb-
Sultanate of Oman.
Attachments:
2- Attachments
A) Licensing Regulation B) Public Telephone Telecommunications Service Regulation
C) Regulation Specifying the License Fees for Providing Telecommunications Services
D) License Application Guidelines
E) Individual License
F) Standard A License
G) Standard B License
Responses about the consultation document:
- Omantel
- Oman Broadband
- Awasr
- Connect Arabia (Friendi Mobile)
- Oman Tech Infrastructure (Helios Oman)
- RigNet Middle East
- Inmarsat
- Telesat
- OQ Tech
- Space Communication Technologies (SCT)
- SpaceX
- OneWeb
- Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA)
- E-Space
- Kinéis
TRA would like to thank the respondents for their contributions. The position statement was issued on March 2023 setting out its responses to the comments and queries received.