Basics
Edit
There are 2 network operators in Oman and 2 MVNOs:
- Omantel (aka Oman Mobile)
- Ooredoo (formerly Nawras)
and the two MVNOs Friendi mobile and Renna mobile.
Visitors can buy prepaid SIM cards in the shops and outlets of the providers showing their passport. Oman censores the internet for content it considers as not appropriate.
Some VoIP still blocked Edit
VoIP was blocked for a long time in Oman to protect the monopoly of Omantel for international calls. People in the internet cafe and computer shops even got arrested for providing VoIP in the past. In 2013 some VoIP services like Google Talk and Viber were finally allowed. This applies to all VoIP services where both sides have to be linked through a data line.
Skype and WhatsApp voice call services to telephone lines stay still blocked, but some people circumvent it by using VPN services and offer it illegally. Meanwhile, Ooredoo has released the first official VoIP calling app in the Sultanate (see below).
Third provider Edit
In 2016 Oman’s telecom regulator has decided to accept a 3rd telecom provider in the country to enhance competition. A decision was issued urging telecom companies to speed up network, quality enhancement and bring down prices of telecom services. The two existing telecom operators Omantel and Ooredoo are under intense pressure by a boycott launched on social media by clients in protest of high prices and low quality services. Mobile phone users were requested to switch off their phones or put them on flight mode.
Omantel (a.k.a. Oman Mobile) Edit
Omantel is the Sultanate’s incumbent telecoms operator and primary provider of internet in the country on landline and ADSL. It’s mostly state-owned and market leader in mobile networks too.
Availability Edit
Their prepaid SIM card is called “Hayyak“. Starter sets can be bought from any Omantel Mobile, Omantel retail outlets and authorized dealers: location list. There is one 24hrs shop at Muscat airport (MCT).
Account management and recharging Edit
Reload vouchers are for RO 1, 3, 5 or 10 extending account lifetime for 6 months each recharge.
To check your account balance, dial *100#. You can use mobile apps (available in English) for Android (Google Play) and Apple iOS (App Store).
Data feature packs Edit
Default data rate for the Hayyak plan is 0.05 Bz per KB.
To each plan 5 “favourite mobile numbers” can be added with unlimited calls included. To add a favourite number type *285*1*xxxxxxxxx#. All packages are valid for 30 days and contain another 2 OMR credit and . Data overage fee is 2 OMR per GB. Social media includes WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. They offer these mobile broadband packages for more data to be added to all plans:
You can subscribe to more than one package at a time, You can subscribe to the same package more than once. They will send you an SMS when you reach your data quota. 4G/LTE is included in these packages where available. You may have to activate LTE by texting ‘4G’ to 91221. All packages will auto-renew. To stop text code and replace ‘#’ by ‘*1#’. To check data balance text code and replace ‘#’ by ‘*0#’.
More info Edit
- APN, Username and Password: taif
- Website in English: https://www.omantel.om/wps/portal/Omantel/Personal/
Ooredoo (formerly Nawras) Edit
Ooredeoo is the 2nd provider in the country still giving good coverage in 3G and 4G: 3G 4G coverage maps. 3G covers 90% of the population and 4G/LTE is planned to do so by the end of 2017. Ooredoo from Qatar has acquired the majority of the operator which was called Nawras before and renamed it to Ooredoo in 2014.
Availability Edit
Their prepaid SIM card is called “Mousbak“. “Welcome” starter sets can be bought from any store or dealer found here: Ooredoo store locator Mousbak starter pack is sold for RO 2 with RO 1 credit included for 30 days and 500 MB for 10 days. Another 500 MB for 10 days are given as a bonus if you top-up RO 1 or more for the first time.
Data feature packs Edit
Pay-as-you-go rate outside of packages is 0.5 Bz per KB. They offer a big variety of daily, weekly and monthly packages:
Customers will receive a SMS notification of their data usage at 80% and 100% of data consumption. All bundles will auto-renew. To stop type code and replace ‘#’ by ‘*0#’ at the end, to check data balance type *141*4*9#.
Visitor package Edit
The Ooredoo Visitor Pack is a prepaid mobile SIM specially designed for tourists visiting Oman. For RO 5, the pack is loaded with: 30 minutes (national or international), 30 SMS (national or international) and 1 GB of data, all valid for 7 days. You can get the Visitor Pack at any of their airport branches and some Ooredoo stores.
Roaming packages Edit
For discounted roaming in the GCC states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE) Ooredoo sells special Roaming passports:
- for 1 day: RO 4 with 1 GB, activation: *141*211#
- for 1 week: RO 10 with 2 GB and 30 mins, activation: *141*227#
Check data allowances by *141*77#.
More info Edit
- APN: Ooredoo
- Username and Password: test
- Website in English: https://www.ooredoo.om/
Shababiah Edit
Ooredoo Oman has launched a new sub-brand with a prepaid tariff plan called Shababiah (= youth) in 2016. Bearing a new logo the tariff iTimes aimed at Oman’s youth, but generally accessible.
Availability Edit
Shababiah Welcome Packs are available from any of Ooredoo’s 41 stores and franchises across Oman. For RO 2, the Shababiah Welcome Pack provides 1 GB data as well as RO 1 credit valid for 30 days. Existing Mousbak customers can opt into Shababiah by *141*555*5#. Once customers have joined, they can then choose the options that suit them. Shababiah customers can continue to use standard Mousbak recharge cards.
Data feature packages Edit
Out of bundle charge is 10 Bz. per MB. Their new plans have these bundled data in the Sultanate:
All plans auto-renew after 30 days. To unsubscribe, add ‘*9#’ instead of ‘#’ in the activation code. To check balance, add ‘*0#’ instead of ‘#’. To revert to their standard default rate of 10 Bz. per MB, dial *141*555*55#. The first opt-in to any package is free, all subsequent opt-ins are for RO 1 each.
VoIP calling app Edit
VoIP is still partially banned in the country (see Basics above). In summer 2016 Ooredoo has launched a new app called OoredooTalk, enabling its customers to make high quality calls to mobile phones and fixed lines in over 200 destinations worldwide at the lowest rates in the Sultanate. The secure app for Android devices is available for free on the Google Play Store and an iOS version of OoredooTalk is announced.
More info Edit
- APN: Ooredoo
- Username and password: test
- Website for Shababia in English: http://www.shababiah.om
Friendi mobileEdit
Friendi started in 2010 as a MVNO and is by now the 3rd largest operator in the country. It uses the network of Omantel in 2G and 3G only, and now on 4G/LTE too.
Availability Edit
Their prepaid SIM card is available at all the Lulu Hypermarkets, Zahra Phones, Zahrath Al Hanna and FRiENDi mobile kiosks in Muscat and Qurum City Centers and Muscat International Airport store locator. It is sold for RO 2 including RO 1 credit and 500 MB free every month for the first 3 months after having activated a data plan.
Data feature packs Edit
Pay-as-you-go data rate without having booked a package is 0.5 Bz per 10 KB (= 50 Bz/MB). These packages are offered:
The plan will renew automatically. However, you can stop the renewal at any time by sending an SMS to 91111 with the keyword ‘STOP’. Night use is 11pm-4am. To check remaining data, type *125#.
- extra 200 MB: RO 1
- extra 650 MB: RO 3
- extra 1 GB: RO 5
- extra 5 GB nighttime use: RO 5
- extra 10 GB nighttime use: RO 9
- extra 20 GB nighttime use: RO 15
To activate from your mobile dial:*200*1#. The extra add-on will follow the validity date of your current internet plan. You can buy as many extra add-ons as you want. They will not be automatically renewed. Nighttime use is 11pm-4am only.
More info Edit
- Like Ooredoo Friendi is offering a VoIP app to downlo
- APN: net
- Website in English: http://www.friendimobile.com/en-om?home
Renna mobile Edit
Renna mobile is the only other MVNO in Oman, aquired by Integrated Telecommunications Oman (TeO) in 2016. It’s on Omantel’s 2G and 3G network and now on 4G/LTE too.
Availability Edit
Their prepaid SIM card is available at their sales outlets shown on this list for 2 RO containing the same credit. Their reload cards are available there or at any Oman Oil service station for RO 1, 3, 5, and 7. Check balance by *181*2#.
Data feature packs Edit
Data outside of these packs is 0.05 Bz. per KB (= RO 10.486 per GB).
Night hours are 11pm – 5.59am. All packages auto-renew. To check or stop type *181*5#. To check data balance type *181*52#.
- 100 MB: RO 0.600
- 500 MB: RO 2
- 200 MB of night traffic: RO 0.350
- 500 MB of night traffic: RO 0.650