MUSCAT : The project forms part of national efforts to enhance the telecommunications ecosystem, strengthen digital sovereignty, and build national capabilities in space and future technologies.

The agreement was signed by His Excellency Eng. Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology while it was signed from the ADS by Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus.

Airbus will design “OmanSat-1” with high capacity in the Ka-band frequency, covering the Sultanate of Oman—including its economic waters—as well as the Middle East, East Africa, and Asia. The satellite will be based on Airbus’s OneSat platform, offering full digital reconfigurability while in orbit.

As part of the agreement, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has assigned the satellite’s operation to the “Space Communications Technologies SCT,” a company fully owned by Oman Investment Authority (OIA), to serve as the national operator after launch and to be the executive arm during the design and manufacturing stages.

The Ministry has also established a Project Management Office within the SCT to oversee administrative and technical aspects of the project in collaboration with Airbus throughout the manufacturing process. The office will ensure infrastructure readiness for satellite operations and develop a fully integrated operational ecosystem in Oman for satellite management and service delivery to both government and private-sector entities after launch.

His Excellency Eng. Hamoud Al Maawali stated that “the project aims to strengthen Oman’s digital sovereignty by establishing a national space-based infrastructure capable of providing independent and secure telecommunications and data services. This will enhance national cybersecurity, ensure continuity of critical services under all circumstances, extend coverage to rural areas, and improve the quality of telecommunications and internet services in alignment with Oman Vision 2040”.

He explained that this project represents a major step toward localizing technical knowledge. It includes intensive programs to train and qualify Omani talent across all project phases—from design to manufacturing, testing, and operation—ensuring full Omani management capability after launch. It will also empower local companies, especially SMEs, to participate in the project’s supply chain, supporting local value creation and strengthening the private sector’s role in the national space economy.

Additionally, the project will support scientific research through collaboration between local universities and Airbus Defense and Space.

His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary for Communications and Information Technology and Head of Negotiation Committee for the project stated that “this project marks a transformational milestone in Oman’s technological and space development journey. It reflects the government’s commitment to building a sustainable digital economy anchored in knowledge and innovation. The satellite will significantly strengthen Oman’s national telecommunications ecosystem, enabling vital sectors and supporting digital transformation and smart services. He also emphasized the national role of Space Communications Technologies as the project’s operator and executive arm, ensuring knowledge transfer and national capacity-building in this strategic field.

He added that this milestone follows years of national effort involving extensive evaluation of various proposals for designing, manufacturing, and launching Oman’s satellite. He confirmed that cooperation with ADS ensures effective institutional integration between government, investment entities, and the private sector to achieve national ambitions in space and communications.

Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, expressed his pleasure at signing the contract to provide Oman with world-class, fully flexible satellite communications capabilities through its first geostationary satellite. He affirmed Airbus’s commitment to working side-by-side with Space Communications Technologies to support the implementation of Oman’s national satellite program and the development of sovereign capabilities to serve future customers.

Dr. Saud bin Humaid Al Shoaili, Head of the National Space Program and Head of the Project Management Office, stated that “the project is a key pillar in implementing the National Space Strategy (2023–2033), which aspires for Oman to become the regional gateway for space services and technologies that enable economic diversification and unlock future opportunities, enhancing the sector’s contribution to GDP and expanding national space services”.

Dr. Saud added that the project complements national initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology in partnership with the local private sector, including satellite launch operations from Duqm Port under the “Itlaq” launch program, national space capacity-building programs, the Oman Space Accelerator Program, and geospatial data and Earth observation projects—forming a fully integrated ecosystem to support Oman’s space economy.

Eng. Salim bin Said Al Alawi, CEO of Space Communications Technologies, said: “We take pride in the trust placed in us by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and the Oman Investment Authority to operate and manage this national project. This marks a major turning point in the history of satellite communications in the Sultanate of Oman. We will work closely with Airbus to implement the project to the highest global standards.”

He added that the company aims to build a fully Omani-driven operational system managed by qualified national talent, enabling Oman to deliver advanced and secure satellite communication services. He clarified that the company will operate the latest software-defined satellite with high flexibility and Ka-band capacity, enabling the delivery of competitive services across targeted sectors.

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