Sohail Qadir, CEO of ZOI
Zain Omantel International (ZOI) is the Middle East’s premier wholesale powerhouse serving regional operators, international carriers, global Hyperscalers, and cloud providers seeking services within the region and beyond. The first-of-its-kind joint venture signifies a substantial advancement in the telecommunications industry and is poised to become a global powerhouse due to Zain’s extensive regional presence and success in the retail and digital arenas, combined with Omantel’s exceptional wholesale capabilities and comprehensive international subsea and terrestrial networks. ZOI manages all international wholesale requirements of Zain and Omantel operations in eight countries, serving over 55 million customers. Below is a Q&A session with Sohail Qadir, CEO of ZOI.
Khalid Athar: Please tell us about the vision behind Zain Oman International. What kind of synergies are you hoping to achieve?
Sohail Qadir: At ZOI, our vision is to revolutionize the telecommunications landscape by becoming the Middle East’s premier international wholesale powerhouse. Our strategic partnership between Zain and Omantel aims to create unique synergies, leveraging Zain’s extensive regional success in retail and digital services and Omantel’s exceptional wholesale capabilities.
By delivering unparalleled service and support to customers worldwide, ZOI seeks to drive innovation, connectivity, and growth in the wholesale telecommunications sector. We envision ZOI as a catalyst for transformative change, empowering industries and individuals across the Middle East and beyond with cutting-edge technological solutions.
KA: Can you tell us a little bit about the scope of operations and which markets ZOI will initially cover?
SQ: ZOI’s comprehensive operations are designed to cater to regional and global carriers, data centers, Hyperscalers, telecom operators, content providers, and cloud providers. As we embark on our journey, ZOI will manage all international wholesale requirements of Zain and Omantel operations in eight countries, serving over 55 million customers. These markets include Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and South Sudan. With our strategic hub, ZOI serves as a bridge connecting these markets to the rest of the world, offering seamless connectivity and facilitating digital transformation.
KA: What industry segments are expected to benefit most from ZOI?
SQ: ZOI’s services hold immense value for various industry segments within the telecommunications domain. Operators in the Middle East seeking end-to-end telecommunications solutions will experience a seamless and comprehensive offering that enhances their capabilities. Additionally, regional and global carriers, data centers, hyperscalers, telecom operators, content providers, and cloud providers will benefit significantly from our state-of-the-art services. Our commitment to partnerships drives us to prioritize each collaboration, ensuring we deliver unparalleled value and support to all our stakeholders.
KA: Do you expect any hurdles or difficult competition in your initial period? What will be the strongest challenges?
SQ: As a joint venture between Omantel and Zain Group, both of whom have had a successful running business well before ZOI was established and built upon a solid foundation of industry experience and success. We understand that competition is a natural aspect of the industry, and we embrace it as a partnership approach, understanding that healthy competition leads to continuous improvement. At ZOI, we firmly believe that sometimes we win the business, and at other times, other partners may succeed. This healthy competition fosters innovation and drives us to continuously improve our offerings.
Throughout our journey, we have been humbled by the tremendous support received from the industry, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has backed us in our endeavor. Overcoming challenges is in our DNA, and with the collective strength of Omantel and Zain Group, we are well-equipped to thrive in the face of any hurdles that come our way.
KA: How do you see the growth in the Middle East telecom market over the past few years? (Especially in the wholesale business)
SQ: The Middle East telecom market has experienced significant growth over the past few years, especially in the wholesale business. ZOI is poised to capitalize on this growth by providing state-of-the-art services and contributing to the continued development of the wholesale telecommunications sector.
Our high-capacity, diversified international subsea network has contributed to making the footprint of ZOI operations a true global hub for telecom traffic, connecting more than 120 cities worldwide.
Moreover, ZOI’s strategic partnerships with around 700 operators worldwide enable seamless connectivity in over 210 countries, eliminating barriers and building bridges. We are also leading the 5G roaming deployment in our region, with 160+ networks enabled for 5G international roaming. These achievements demonstrate our commitment to driving innovation and propelling growth in the wholesale telecommunications sector.
KA: Are you looking to expand into any new markets or verticals in the near future?
SQ: As an ambitious pan-Middle East operator, ZOI is currently operating in 9 markets, and we are actively exploring additional options for further expansion.
Our growth strategy encompasses both organic expansion and potential mergers and acquisitions, aiming to broaden our reach and capabilities. In addition to our geographical expansion, ZOI is dedicated to embracing new verticals that push the boundaries of connectivity and transformation.
Specifically, we are spearheading the acceleration of transformative technologies like Machine-to-Machine (M2M), Internet of Vehicles (IoV), and Internet of Things (IoT) across the Middle East region. By venturing into these cutting-edge technologies, we aim to reshape the future of telecommunications and deliver unparalleled services to our partners and customers alike.
KA: What have you set out to achieve before the end of 2023? How is the future outlook beyond 2023 for ZOI?
SQ: By the end of 2023, ZOI is committed to becoming a significant international player on the wholesale telecommunications scene, benefiting both Zain and Omantel on financial, commercial, and operational levels.
Looking beyond 2023, our future outlook is optimistic, with a focus on continuous growth, expansion, and providing innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of the telecommunications industry. We are dedicated to advancing subsea cable technology, expanding network reach, and addressing the evolving needs of the wholesale marketplace. Our substantial investments, technological advancements, and strategic milestones have already started to bear fruit, yielding quicker returns on investments due to the high demand for our projects. This progress underscores our unwavering commitment to innovation, resilience, and shaping the future of global connectivity.
