Oman 6G Study: TRA Begins IMT-2030 Readiness Review

Oman Launches Preliminary Study on 6G (IMT-2030) Network Readiness

Oman has taken its first formal step toward the sixth generation of mobile connectivity. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has launched a preliminary study into the future deployment of 6G, the technology standardised internationally as IMT-2030, to assess how prepared the Sultanate is to introduce next-generation networks in the early 2030s.

Announced in early April 2026, the study is exploratory rather than regulatory. It does not open a public consultation, does not invite stakeholder submissions, and does not set technical or certification requirements. Instead, it maps the groundwork Oman will need before 6G becomes a commercial reality.

Regulatory Context

The TRA is Oman's implementing authority for telecommunications policy, established in 2002 under Royal Decree No. 30/2002, with responsibilities spanning spectrum management, licensing, and the approval of telecommunications equipment.

The new 6G study builds on Oman's steady progression through prior network generations. The country launched 5G in December 2019 and extended coverage nationally by late 2025, with mobile subscriptions surpassing eight million by October 2025. Moving to early-stage 6G assessment positions Oman among the first movers in the Gulf region to formally examine readiness for IMT-2030.

The timing aligns with the global standards process. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) published the overarching IMT-2030 Framework (Recommendation ITU-R M.2160) in December 2023, and in February 2026 its Working Party 5D reached agreement on draft minimum technical performance requirements for 6G radio interfaces, with formal approval expected when ITU-R Study Group 5 meets in December 2026. Oman's study is therefore a national-readiness exercise running in parallel with, not ahead of, the international framework that will ultimately define 6G.

Technical Scope of the Oman 6G Study

According to the TRA, the study is focused on national preparedness and concentrates on three core areas:

• Infrastructure requirements: Identifying the core network and supporting infrastructure needed to enable 6G deployment across the Sultanate.

• Spectrum bands: Evaluating suitable radio-frequency spectrum bands for 6G technology, a critical input given that much of the 6G spectrum landscape remains undefined internationally.

• Practical applications: Exploring real-world use cases of 6G across sectors, including advanced security systems, Internet of Things (IoT) deployments, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

  
  

The TRA frames 6G as an evolution of 5G that delivers more efficient, faster, more flexible, and more reliable services. The earliest phase of 6G is expected to extend capabilities already introduced in the 5G era, such as enhanced mobile broadband, fixed wireless access, and programmable networks, before maturing toward the full IMT-2030 vision around 2030.

The study's stated objectives are to enable emerging technologies in the telecom sector, ensure early readiness for next-generation technology adoption, and enhance local value creation.

It is worth emphasising what the study is not: it is not a binding regulation, a type-approval rule change, or a spectrum allocation decision. No 6G-specific compliance obligations follow from it at this stage.

What This Means for Manufacturers

For device manufacturers, importers, and regulatory affairs teams, the practical takeaway is straightforward: this is a signal to monitor, not an action item to comply with.

• No certification impact today. There are no new type-approval, conformity, or labelling requirements arising from this study. Existing Oman type-approval procedures through the TRA remain unchanged.

• No product is "6G-ready" for Oman yet. Because IMT-2030 technical requirements are still being finalised at the ITU level and no 6G spectrum has been designated in Oman, no equipment can currently be certified or marketed as 6G-compliant for the Omani market.

• Early visibility is the value. The study reveals which spectrum bands and infrastructure models Oman is likely to favour. Manufacturers and importers planning multi-year product roadmaps can use this as an early indicator of where the Omani market is heading.

• 5G remains the operative regime. All current market-access, type-approval, and import activity continues under the established 5G-and-prior framework. Manufacturers should keep aligning near-term compliance to those existing rules.

  
  

The most useful response is to assign the topic to a watch list, track TRA announcements for any move from "study" to "consultation" or "spectrum decision," and revisit product roadmaps when concrete spectrum or technical parameters emerge.

Certification Impact Summary

Area	Current Status	Impact on Manufacturers / Importers
Type approval / certification	No change	None — existing TRA type-approval procedures apply
6G technical requirements	Not issued (study stage only)	None yet; monitor ITU IMT-2030 process and future TRA outputs
Spectrum allocation	Under evaluation in study	None yet; candidate bands not designated
Public consultation / comment period	Not opened	No submission opportunity at this stage
Market-access obligations	Unchanged (5G-and-prior regime)	Continue current compliance; no 6G-specific duties
Recommended action	Monitor	Add to regulatory watch list; no compliance action required

Timeline and Required Actions

Verified and expected milestones:

1. December 2023: ITU IMT-2030 Framework published. Recommendation ITU-R M.2160 established the global foundation for 6G.

2. February 2026: ITU-R draft 6G performance requirements agreed. Working Party 5D reached consensus on minimum technical performance requirements for 6G radio interfaces.

3. Early April 2026: Oman TRA launches preliminary 6G study. Scope covers infrastructure, spectrum bands, and applications; announced via TRA's official channels.

4. December 2026 (expected): ITU-R Study Group 5 formal approval. Anticipated approval of the IMT-2030 technical performance requirements.

5. Early 2030s (projected): Commercial 6G availability. Global commercial readiness expected, subject to evolving technical, regulatory, and market conditions.

   
   

Required actions for manufacturers and regulatory affairs teams:

•  No compliance action required now: the study creates no obligations.

•  Add Oman 6G developments to your regulatory monitoring list, with the TRA as the primary watch source.

•  Track the ITU IMT-2030 process, particularly the December 2026 Study Group 5 outcome, as it will shape any future Omani requirements.

•  Watch for escalation signals: any shift from "study" to a formal public consultation, draft regulation, or spectrum-award announcement.

•  Maintain current 5G-era compliance for all active Oman market-access and type-approval work.

•  Flag the topic in long-range product roadmaps so 6G-capable designs can be aligned once Oman's spectrum and technical direction firm up.

  
  

Market Significance

Oman's decision to begin formal 6G readiness work, even before the global technical standard is finalised, reflects a deliberate strategy to future proof its telecommunications infrastructure and strengthen its position as an early regional adopter of next-generation technology. For the wider device and equipment ecosystem, it is an early but meaningful indicator: the markets that study 6G first are often the markets that move fastest once the standard matures. Tracking these early signals now allows manufacturers and importers to enter the eventual 6G certification cycle prepared rather than reactive.