Muscat- Sharing Wi-Fi or any other internet services with parties outside the residential premises where the Wi-Fi connection is provided is considered an illegal telecom activity and can result in punitive actions, including discontinuation of the connection, according to telecom service providers.
In a mass message, service providers have warned individuals against reselling or sharing Wi-Fi services with outsiders, stating, “It is strictly prohibited to redistribute or sell internet services outside the contracted residential or commercial unit.” “Such actions are violations of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Law, and those found to be reselling or redistributing Wi-Fi services may face legal consequences,” telecom service providers said.
If caught reselling or redistributing Wi-Fi services, individuals may have their service contract terminated, be subject to an early termination fee, and be banned from receiving Internet services from any telecommunications company for a period determined by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).
To avoid these legal consequences, service providers further warn internet users to adhere to the law and only obtain internet services from licensed telecommunications companies.
There are approximately 16 operators licensed to provide telecom services in Oman, with nearly 15,000 telecom towers installed by licensed operators across all service categories, including 2G (4,498 towers), 3G (5,399), and 4G (around 5,250), according to a TRA report.
Mobile broadband subscribers have increased by 12 per cent, with about 99 per cent of the population currently enjoying 3G/4G coverage, representing a 10 per cent growth over 2018 trends.
While broadband subscriptions by residential and commercial customers have been increasing in Muscat Governorate, subscription trends have been significantly lower in other governorates. This is mainly attributed to the high uptake of services in Muscat Governorate due to the high population density in the capital area, as well as the concentration of commercial activities.
