“AFAQ” (means Horizons) initiative was launched by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in the Sultanate of Oman in April 2020. The initiative main objective was to deliver broadband internet to remote villages in Oman which did not have any form of internet service (fixed or mobile), in a fast and cost-effective way. The initiative came during Corona virus pandemic and lockdowns, when internet became essential for work and education. Funded by the government, the TRA assigned the execution of the initiative to Oman Broadband Company (OBB) through the satellite technology. A Customer can apply for the service through one of the licensed service providers in the country. Once the service provider receives the application, OBB is directed to install a dish and a modem in the customer side, and connect it through the satellite to an Earth Station that was established in the country. The service provider can then connect the customer to the internet.
598 remote villages have been identified by the TRA and included in the initiative. The initiative also included 141 government schools that were not connected to the internet before, as well as 5 agriculture farms which were part of the 1-million-Palm-Tree project in the country.

https://tra.gov.om/En/Initiatives.jsp?menu=14

• Oman

• Remote and rural communities

Any country can replicate the project to provide broadband services to remote villages.

The initiative is funded by the goverment for 10 years. In addition, the customers in those remorte villages are charged for the service the same charge that is applied for the customers in the cities. This makes the project sustainable.

The main objective of the initiative was to deliver internet services to all remote villages in the country in order to improve access to information and communication infrastructure and technologies in those villages, as well as to help the people in those remote villages gain ways to information and knowledge, which is in line with WSIS values in regard to “Information and communication infrastructure: an essential foundation for an inclusive information society”.