Illegal Internet sales can lead to RO50,000 fine and/or jail: TRA
Speaking to a local radio station, Al Muatasim al Ghazali, Director of Frequencies Monitoring and Inspection Department at TRA, said such practices are a clear violation of the Telecommunications Regulatory Law.
He explained that some individuals subscribe to Internet services from licensed operators and then redistribute them to neighbours, relatives or nearby shops without obtaining legal permission. 'This results in unauthorised networks that cause radio interference, which in turn weakens Internet quality and speed.'
Ghazali noted that these illegal activities not only affect the quality of services provided but also cause direct financial loss to licensed operators, impacting their ability to maintain a stable and reliable digital infrastructure across the sultanate.
Violators could face imprisonment of up to two years and/or a fine of up to RO50,000.
Ghazali added that TRA has developed advanced monitoring systems in cooperation with licensed service providers to detect and trace unauthorised networks.
He called on the public to report such violations, stressing the importance of compliance with the law to safeguard service quality, protect national investments, and ensure a secure and equitable technological environment for all.
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Muscat Daily
3 days ago
- Muscat Daily
Illegal Internet sales can lead to RO50,000 fine and/or jail: TRA
Muscat – Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has warned against the growing practice of individuals illegally distributing and selling Internet services, stating that it poses serious risks to network stability and undermines investment in the telecommunications sector. Speaking to a local radio station, Al Muatasim al Ghazali, Director of Frequencies Monitoring and Inspection Department at TRA, said such practices are a clear violation of the Telecommunications Regulatory Law. He explained that some individuals subscribe to Internet services from licensed operators and then redistribute them to neighbours, relatives or nearby shops without obtaining legal permission. 'This results in unauthorised networks that cause radio interference, which in turn weakens Internet quality and speed.' Ghazali noted that these illegal activities not only affect the quality of services provided but also cause direct financial loss to licensed operators, impacting their ability to maintain a stable and reliable digital infrastructure across the sultanate. Violators could face imprisonment of up to two years and/or a fine of up to RO50,000. Ghazali added that TRA has developed advanced monitoring systems in cooperation with licensed service providers to detect and trace unauthorised networks. He called on the public to report such violations, stressing the importance of compliance with the law to safeguard service quality, protect national investments, and ensure a secure and equitable technological environment for all.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
TRA tracks down on individuals sharing internet connection
Muscat: The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), has urged not to distribute and sell internet service without obtaining a license. According to TRA, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, in cooperation with relevant authorities, has begun field inspection campaigns to seize wireless networks that illegally distribute internet services. Al Moatasem bin Nasser Al Ghazali, Director of the Frequency Monitoring and Inspection Department at the Communications Regulatory Authority said in an interview :"A family member, in partnership with a licensed telecommunications company, may distribute and sell internet service to relatives, siblings, and neighbors without obtaining a license. This is considered an illegal act. This action causes significant damage to mobile phone service operators and threatens the huge investments pumped into providing an advanced and reliable telecommunications infrastructure due to the radio interference caused by these illegal networks and their impact on data speed. " " Article (53) of the Telecommunications Regulatory Law stipulates that anyone who establishes, assists, or incites the establishment or operation of a telecommunications system without obtaining a license from the Authority shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, or a fine not exceeding OMR 50,000 , or one of these two penalties, " Al Ghazali added Al Ghazali said that we have devices and systems to track these illegal networks, in cooperation with the operators, through their data centers, where individuals who illegally sell this service to nearby homes and businesses are tracked."
