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Muscat: Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) aims to triple its broadband subscriber base by the end of this year with fastest speed and best price available in the Gulf, according to chief executive Dr Mohammad Bin Ali Al Wohaibi.
Omantel on Saturday unveiled a new strategy for the hi-Speed internet (ADSL) service, which marks the start of a new stage in the development of internet services in the country within the framework of efforts to disseminate the digital culture nationwide.
"Currently we have 29,000 ADSL subscribers in the country and we hope to reach 75,000 by the end of this year," Dr Al Wohaibi said during the media launch at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Muscat on Saturday.
According to the Omantel chief, 3,000 subscribers took internet connections every month in 2007. "With our new packages and much faster speed, we think the subscriber base will grow by 5,000 a month," he said. He added that the company would like every internet user to subscribe to broadband.
Digital culture
"We aim to strengthen our leading position on Internet Service Provider map in the region," he said.
He pointed out that the new strategy emphasises the company's keenness to be part of the efforts to spread digital culture in the Sultanate and push forward the digital society and e-government project, which acquires great attention from both the government and individuals as well.
Dr Al Wohaibi stressed the fact that Oman is implementing plans to turn to the knowledge economy. Therefore, Omantel sees the importance of developing its internet strategy in order to keep pace with the changes taking place in the Sultanate and expand the internet users' base.
"Omantel offers high speeds and prices considered the best in the Gulf region," Dr Al Wohaibi said. The French Orange Business Service Company has designed the new strategy, which the CEO believes confirms the company's vision and ability to cope with regional competition in internet services in particular and in telecom services in general.
While new subscribers will get higher speeds and other benefits, existing subscribers will also get higher speeds without being charged additional fees. The current speed for personal home use is 384 kbps and will be upgraded to 512 kbps.
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