Oman invites bids for first national satellite programme

The sultanate plans to launch its first satellite system by 2024

A satellite image of the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman and surrounding land masses.

Oman’s first national satellite programme has begun, with calls for consultancies to bid for financial and technical advisory contracts issued last week.

Space Communications Technology LLC is leading Oman’s maiden satellite communications project. It aims to launch the sultanate’s first satellite by 2024.

The project is being developed to bolster the country's telecommunications network and serve the evolving needs of Oman’s public and private sectors.

The proposed orbit slot has good visibility with high elevation angles for the desired footprint. The satellite will be built using the latest technology by leading experts in the industry.

“This project is considered as one of the strategic projects that Oman is planning, namely to launch the first national satellite system with national, regional and global coverage, however with the primary TT&C [telemetry, tracking and control subsystem] to be located in Oman,” the SCT said.

The company’s “operational plan is based on the rental of a large capacity that meets all the requirements of the sultanate with high technical features through coverage of the sultanate’s entire territory and its economic waters with faster high throughput data”, it said.