State-owned Oman Broadband Company (OBC) has signed an agreement to use the infrastructure of electricity distribution firm Nama Group. Muscat Daily reports that the strategic deal will allow OBC to access Nama Group’s fibre-optic network, which extends more than 74,000km, to connect households across the Sultanate. OBC was established in 2014 to construct and operate broadband infrastructure to be utilised by licensed telecoms operators and government institutions on an equal and non-discriminatory basis.
‘This partnership will enable Oman Broadband Company in the implementation of the National Broadband Strategy that was directed by the Ministers Cabinet to Oman Broadband in 2013,’ noted Bader al Zeidi, acting CEO of OBC, adding: ‘Furthermore, this partnership is also in line with the Ministry of Finance’s circulation to all government bodies with regards to issuing guidelines that regulates the use of passive network infrastructure.’