06 November 2019

Vodafone Group has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Oman Future Telecommunications (OFT), making the UK-based operator the third player in the Middle Eastern country.  

The OFT consortium, led by Itqan Tech Development, had secured the Sultanate’s third mobile network operator licence in October 2017.

The acquisition was preceded by the cancellation of the tender process.  

Under the 15-year non-equity agreement, Vodafone and OFT will work together to roll out a new mobile network and develop a number of new services using the Vodafone brand in Oman.

OFT also becomes a part of the operator’s Partner Markets programme. 

The development of the new Vodafone branded network will start immediately with a commercial launch currently planned for the second half of 2020.  

Vodafone Partner Networks chief executive officer Diego Massidda said he was delighted to start the strategic partnership with OFT and added how he is looking forward to developing a new network operator in Oman and contribute to the country’s digital economy.

He also said that this partnership will build into a strong and lasting relationship that will benefit customers of both companies.