MUSCAT: Starlink, the company owned by Elon Musk, will provide satellite internet service in Oman after the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) granted approval. With this Oman will join Qatar among countries in the Middle East where the company’s service is available.

“Starlink now available in Oman,” Musk said on his social media platform X.

According to Starlink, low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and connectivity devices have given more than 3 million people in at least 100 countries and territories the ability to connect to high-speed internet.

Unlike traditional communications satellites, which orbit Earth in the range of 20,000km to 35,000km, Starlink’s thousands of satellites orbit at about 550km, significantly quickening internet speeds and cutting back on latency. In comparison to 5G or broadband internet, satellite internet does not depend on mobile towers or high-speed data lines for connectivity, making connection possible in remote areas.

“Additionally, it will provide innovative solutions for connecting telecommunications towers in difficult-to-reach areas, aiding Oman’s digital transformation,” a statement from Oman News Agency stated.

Starlink Muscat was granted a Class 1 licence under Royal Decree No. 42/2023, issued on 20 June 2023, authorising the establishment and operation of a satellite communications system to provide fixed public telecommunications services in the Sultanate.

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