Oman is mulling plans to acquire a national communications satellite to serve broad Omani telecommunications needs reported Omain newspaper Alwatan.
“The government is developing a range of studies and a number of specialized committees for the revived satellite communications project”, said Minister of Transport and Communications Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Salim al-Futaisi.
Addressing the second session of a symposium being held in Muscat, he said that the government must consider the diverse needs of the Omani telecommunications sector.
The OmanSat project was put off in 2010, as Oman government was about to sign an estimated U.S. $ 1 billion to acquire a satellite communications system.
The German telecommunications consulting company Audens had then conducted a thourough study for the Oman government that laid out a business case and acquisition strategy for the proposed OmanSat.
Dr. al-Futaisi said that the ministry plans to invite investment and sovereign funds to contribute to the OmanSat project.
Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/250317/Muscat-set-to-revive-the-OmanSat-project
