Omantel has partnered with the Port of Salalah to implement Oman’s first Managed Private 5G Network, marking a significant step in the country’s digital transformation of its logistics and maritime infrastructure and demonstrating the expanding role of dedicated fifth-generation connectivity in industrial automation across the Gulf region.
Omantel will deploy a dedicated 5G Standalone private core supported by upgraded mobile sites to ensure coverage across the port, with the solution including ruggedized customer premises equipment designed for harsh industrial conditions, along with 600 SIMs provisioned with monthly data allowances to support the port’s device ecosystem. The network will be delivered as a fully managed service with 99.9 percent availability, supported by Omantel’s Network Operations Centre and dedicated Business Call Centre, ensuring continuous monitoring and rapid response capabilities.
The Port of Salalah requires a high-availability communication network capable of supporting hundreds of simultaneous connections, maintaining local survivability, and integrating seamlessly with existing operational systems, with the Omantel solution engineered to ensure uninterrupted connectivity for critical port operations and enabling real-time data exchange across cranes, vehicles, equipment, and workforce applications. The deployment supports the port’s broader automation programme, which is designed to improve productivity and operational competitiveness. International benchmarks from comparable port deployments have demonstrated that advanced technology integration can yield productivity increases of up to 30 percent alongside equivalent reductions in operational costs, outcomes that the Port of Salalah is seeking to replicate through this private network investment.
Aladdin bin Abdullah Bait Fadhil, Chief Executive Officer of Omantel, said the partnership with the Port of Salalah demonstrates Omantel’s commitment to accelerating digital transformation across Oman’s logistics sector, adding that through the deployment of advanced private 5G infrastructure the company is enabling smarter operations, greater efficiency, and sustainable growth. Port of Salalah Chief Executive Officer Steven Yoogalingam described the collaboration as an important milestone in the port’s journey toward becoming one of the most advanced and efficient ports in the region, saying the 5G private network will allow the port to validate new capabilities, improve real-time decision-making, and strengthen operational resilience. The project aligns with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, which prioritises innovation, competitiveness, and the development of smart, automated industries, and is expected to lay the groundwork for broader adoption of private 5G networks across Oman’s ports, logistics hubs, and industrial zones.
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