Oman mobile subscriptions exceed 8.2 million as fibre demand continues to grow

MUSCAT: The total number of mobile service subscriptions in the Sultanate of Oman reached 8.22 million by the end of April 2026, marking a 2 percent increase compared with the same period last year, according to the latest figures released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information.

The data highlights continued growth in postpaid services and advanced broadband technologies, reflecting the country's ongoing digital transformation.

Active postpaid mobile subscriptions increased by 5 percent to 1,298,229, while prepaid subscriptions declined by 1 percent to 5,240,248.

The fastest growth within the mobile sector came from Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine connections, which rose by 8 percent to 1,683,560 subscriptions, driven by expanding use of connected devices across industries and services.

In the internet segment, the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions climbed to 5,428,965, while fixed broadband subscriptions edged up by 1 percent to 590,252.

Fibre-optic connectivity continued to gain momentum, with fiber-to-the-home and fiber-to-business subscriptions increasing by 7 percent year-on-year to 361,078 subscriptions by the end of April.

Meanwhile, fixed 5G broadband subscriptions recorded a slight decline of 2 percent to 210,952 subscriptions, suggesting a gradual shift by some users toward fiber-based services where available.

Satellite internet services posted the strongest percentage growth among broadband technologies, with subscriptions surging 198 percent to 1,517, albeit from a relatively small base.

Older internet technologies continued to lose ground. Fixed 4G subscriptions dropped sharply by 68 percent to 6,672, while Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriptions fell 26 percent to 9,304. Other fixed internet services—including connections delivered through power lines, Ethernet networks and leased lines—declined by 7 percent to 729 subscriptions.

The latest figures underscore Oman’s continued transition toward high-speed broadband infrastructure, with fiber-optic services increasingly becoming the preferred fixed internet technology as demand for faster and more reliable connectivity grows across households and businesses.