MUSCAT: The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has warned the illegal postal service providers to stop their activities immediately or face stringent action.

For providing postal services, it is mandatory to obtain the necessary license from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority for the services including receiving, clearing, sorting, distributing and delivering all items such as (letters, small packages, parcels and other things) regardless of whether these services are provided through the offices and branches of licensed companies or through digital technologies like apps and e-platforms.

Individuals, institutions or companies wishing to engage in the activity of providing postal services must apply for a license from the TRA which will be issued after careful consideration with the procedures and conditions stipulated in the law and the executive regulations under Article 38 of the law regulating postal services. The Article 38 states: “Anyone who provides postal or related services without a license shall be punished with a fine of no less than OMR 1000 and not more than OMR100,000, and the penalty shall be doubled in case of repetition.”

A list of licensed companies can be found by visiting the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority ‘s website www.tra.gov.om