Oman Mobile launches 3.5G network

Oman Mobile has announced the launch of its 3.5G network, the Oman Observer reports. The cellco’s managing director Dr Amer al Rawas said that the company will first submit the service to a test panel of selected corporate users, and then use the feedback to fine-tune the service before going live to the general public. He added, ‘We decided to invest now as the technology has become mature and stable, as is the case with 3.5G and specifically, HSDPA, offering mobile broadband speeds up to 7.2Mbps.’ The cellco’s W-CDMA/HSDPA network currently covers the Muscat Governorate and is being expanded throughout the country, under an infrastructure contract with China’s Huawei. Oman Mobile is a subsidiary of telco Omantel and according to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, was the largest cellco in terms of subscribers in September 2008 with an estimated 1.65 million users, representing a market share of 53.9%. The cellular division is in the process of being re-integrated into its parent.