The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority published in this week’s issue of the Official Gazette a new Regulation Governing International Telecommunications Cables that governs the laying, maintenance, repair, and surveying of subsea cables in Omani territorial waters.
Subsea cables are fundamental to the operation of the global internet as they connect continents and allow data to be exchanged between them at high speeds. Oman plays a critical role in this industry due to its strategic location on the Indian Ocean, making it a potential hub for internet connection between South Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and East Africa. Oman also has the only subsea cable connecting the GCC to Australia—a critical piece of digital infrastructure for the digital industry in both regions.
Prior to this new Regulation Governing International Telecommunications Cables issued by the TRA, Oman did not have a formal legal framework for governing the subsea cable industry. The new regulation stipulates that any company can apply for the approval of the TRA to install a subsea cable. If the application is approved, the applicant must pay a fee of 200,000 Rial Omani for a 15-year permit. In certain cases, the TRA may make an exemption for the payment of this fee if the subsea cable is connected to an international cable landing station or terrestrial connection station.
Subsea cable service providers are now also required to obtain approval to maintain, repair, and survey subsea cables in Omani waters. The fee for obtaining this approval is 500 Rial Omani. Holders of licences to provide international fixed public telecommunications are exempt from the payment of this fee.
In addition to outlining the process for obtaining approvals, the regulation also sets out obligations and prohibitions associated with the laying, maintenance, repair, and survey of subsea cable, as well as the penalties for violating the regulation.
The Regulation Governing International Telecommunications Cables has already entered into force. You can read it in full in English on the link below: