Oman has signed an agreement with Airbus Defence and Space to design, build, and launch the country’s first communications satellite, OMANSAT-1, marking a major step in the Sultanate’s space program.
According to Oman’s state news agency Oman Observer, OMANSAT-1 will provide high-capacity communications services over Oman, including its territorial waters, and extend coverage to parts of the Middle East, East Africa, and Asia. The satellite should also strengthen the country’s communications network, enhance digital sovereignty, and build national expertise in space and related technologies.
The satellite will be based on Airbus’ OneSat platform, which will offer full digital flexibility for reconfiguration while in orbit. This capability will allow Oman to adapt satellite coverage and services after launch, improving efficiency and responsiveness to changing needs.
“The project aims to enhance the digital sovereignty of the Sultanate of Oman by possessing a national space infrastructure capable of providing communications and data services independently and securely […] which enhances the level of national information security and contributes to expanding coverage in rural areas and improving the quality of communications and internet services in line with the digital transformation and consistent with the pillars of Oman Vision 2040,” Oman’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Engineer Saeed bin Hamoud al Maawali, said.
The project will be operated by Space Communications Technologies SPC, a company owned by the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), which will coordinate with Airbus throughout the full process of development and launch.
