Muscat – The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has issued new regulations governing passive telecommunications infrastructure in buildings and real estate developments, introducing technical requirements intended to improve connectivity and ensure equal access for licensed operators.

The regulations will apply to the construction or renovation of commercial, industrial and residential buildings, as well as real estate complexes.

It requires developers and property owners to comply with technical specifications issued by the TRA and provide the necessary ducts, cable routes and other infrastructure needed to accommodate telecommunications networks.

The framework is aimed at preventing building infrastructure from being designed around a single operator, while allowing different licensed service providers to access internal networks on fair terms.

The regulations also set out circumstances under which a property owner may enter into an agreement with a licensed telecom operator to establish and operate internal connections and share the associated costs.

One of the key provisions requires property owners to obtain a certificate confirming completion of internal telecommunications connections from an authorised or licensed entity.

The certificate will have to be submitted as part of the requirements for obtaining a building completion certificate, effectively making telecom infrastructure compliance part of the property approval process.

The regulations are divided into three sections covering definitions and general provisions, internal connections for passive telecommunications networks, and administrative penalties.

Most provisions will take effect six months after publication of these new regulations, giving developers, property owners and other concerned entities time to comply with the new technical and regulatory requirements.

However, Clause 3 of Article 2 will take effect three years after publication. The TRA did not detail the provision in its announcement.