SINGAPORE — Singapore fibre broadband provider ViewQwest has its sights set on the Middle East — it has teamed up with Oman’s only Internet service provider Awasr to roll out broadband services there, it announced today (Oct 22).

Trials of its high-speed broadband service will start in the country’s capital, Muscat, on Nov 18, and a commercial launch is expected next year, said Mr Ghaith Al Darmaki, Awasr Programme Director.

“Our network has been built using the same equipment and methods as ViewQwest, and we will have the same capability as (ViewQwest),” he said.

In its first major overseas partnership, ViewQwest will share and transfer the best practices and technical knowledge it has gained since rolling out high-speed fibre broadband services for the Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network in Singapore.

“We are inspired by Singapore’s strategic approach to the implementation of Next Gen NBN and we hope to emulate that success in Oman as we connect homes and offices nationwide,” said Mr Al Darmaki.

According to a statement sent today, Oman has recently launched a National Broadband Strategy, where the government-owned Oman Broadband Company plans to bring fibre optic connections to 90 per cent of Oman’s capital city, Muscat, and 35 per cent in other governorates.