Vodafone Group has announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with Oman Future Telecommunications (OFT), as part of the UK-based operator’s Partner Markets programme. The OFT consortium, which is led by Itqan Tech Development, secured the Sultanate’s third mobile network operator (MNO) licence in October 2017 after the tender process was cancelled. Under the 15-year non-equity agreement, Vodafone and OFT will work together to roll out a new mobile network and develop a number of new services using the Vodafone brand in Oman.
The development of the new Vodafone branded network will commence immediately with a commercial launch planned for the second half of 2020. As well as Itqan Tech Development, the OFT consortium includes pension funds, government investment funds and investors from the private sector, reports Times of Oman.
‘I am delighted to start this strategic partnership with OFT, and I look forward to developing this new network operator and Oman’s digital economy,’ commented Vodafone Partner Markets CEO Diego Massidda, adding: ‘I am confident that this will build into a strong, lasting relationship that will benefit customers of both companies.’