Omantel upgrades 3.5G network upgrade in Batinah

Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) has announced the completion of the upgrade and expansion of its 3.5G network in the Batinah region. The company said that more than 180 base stations have been installed under the modernisation project, which aims to improve customer experience for mobile broadband services in the Sultanate by reducing network congestion. ‘Our customers have already experienced significant improvement in the 3.5G speeds in areas that have already been completed. Plans are underway to cover more governorates in the near future which is part of Omantel’s plans to offer customers the best broadband experience,’ commented Haitham Abdullah Al Kharusi, vice president of Omantel’s Consumer Business Unit. TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database notes that Omantel competes with Nawras, majority owned by Qatar’s Ooredoo, in the Omani mobile market. At the end of June 2013 Omantel had a total of 3.18 million mobile subscribers, giving it a market share of 58.6%.