NEWS
OMAN
Omantel floats new subsidiary to roll out IoT network
Majority government-owned telecommunication services provider Omantel has launched a new subsidiary to support the roll-out of a nationwide Internet of Things ( IoT ) network , embodying technologies that provide the groundwork for the establishment of , among other things , smart cities , smart homes , intelligent transportation and smart grids of the future . Internet of Things LLC is a partnership between Omantel ( 55 %) and SIGFOX ( 45 %), a provider of communications services for the Internet of Things ( IoT ). Under the partnership , first unveiled in April this year , both companies have pledged to provide IoT network coverage extending to around 85 % of the Sultanate ’ s population by end-2017 .
Tech pundits have characterised IoT as a “ game-changer ” that will assimilate all kinds of “ things ” into the world of the Internet . IoT connects appliances , machines and devices over the Internet , letting them gather data , communicate with each other and transmit data over wired or wireless networks . This data can be suitably leveraged to , say , enhance energy efficiency , improve productivity , lower costs and generally contribute to the creation of ‘ smart ’ environments .
For example , IoT-enabled homes , offices or warehouses can be remotely monitored from the standpoints of energy efficiency , security , and so on . The same principle can be applied to traffic signals , road networks , transport systems , logistics , and so on — systems and services that can be monitored and remotely controlled from the vantage point of one ’ s own smartphone or a PDA or computer .
Oman ’ s Ooredoo welcomes new CEO
Ian Dench joins the company from the Ooredoo Group , where he served as Group Chief Commercial Officer . With over 25 years of experience in leading telecommunications companies from around the world , he will continue to grow Ooredoo ’ s established success .
He has worked in telecommunications companies across Europe , Asia & Middle East . Prior to joining Ooredoo he was the Head of Sales & Marketing operations for Batelco . He also held various senior leadership positions with O2 & British Telecom .
Ian joined Ooredoo Qatar operations in 2006 as Executive Director , Corporate & VIP Accounts . In 2012 he was appointed as the Chief Marketing Officer . He was a key member of the Ooredoo Qatar leadership team and had significantly contributed in building Ooredoo ’ s market share in Qatar through developing and maintaining strong product and service portfolios .
Ian is a Member of the Board of Indosat Ooredoo , also ICT Company NavLink and an advisory board member for the Asia Pacific Internet Group .
As CEO of Ooredoo , Ian will lead the company through the next phase of network enhancements and the digital evolution of products and services to customers across Oman .
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