Muscat – The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has issued new regulations governing number portability, allowing users to switch service providers while retaining their existing phone numbers.

The new regulations aim to enable users to choose the telecommunications provider that best meets their needs in terms of price, service quality and network coverage, while strengthening fair competition in Oman’s telecommunications market.

The regulations establish a clear framework for governing and streamlining number portability procedures, including the automation of the process and setting defined timelines for completing requests.

The move is expected to speed up number transfers, simplify procedures and improve the overall user experience. It will also strengthen fair competition among licensed telecommunications operators and reinforce the TRA’s regulatory role in monitoring the service and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

The regulations apply to both licensed telecommunications service providers and users, setting out the respective roles, obligations and rights of each party.

According to the TRA, the framework is designed to ensure more efficient and transparent services, boost users’ confidence in the telecommunications market and keep pace with developments in Oman’s telecom sector.

The regulations follow the launch of a centralised number portability system under the supervision of the TRA, as part of its efforts to develop the regulatory environment for the telecommunications sector, improve service efficiency and promote transparency and fairness among licensed operators.

Oman introduced number portability in 2006, enabling users to move between telecommunications service providers without changing their phone numbers.

In 2008, the TRA issued regulations governing the obligations of licensed operators in providing the service.

However, the expansion of Oman’s telecommunications market and the growing number of licensed operators created a need to further develop the regulatory framework.

The TRA has identified several practices that affect the efficiency of number portability, including delays in processing some requests.

The introduction of an automated, centralised system is intended to address these challenges by ensuring faster, more transparent and equitable procedures for transferring numbers between service providers.