This deployment has enabled Omantel to maintain their market leadership of meeting end-user demands with industry leading solutions.

During the famous khareef season in 2015 Omantel experienced up to a 120 per cent increase in 3G and LTE data traffic over last year's traffic in the southern Oman (Salalah). In support of Omantel to meet continuously growing network coverage and capacity demands Ericsson recommended Zero Site a solution that has zero footprint to avoid complex site acquisition and has low power consumption.

The solution makes bulk site acquisition possible in cities and also supports mass deployment. The concept in this case is to integrate a small cell solution with billboards to provide optimal urban coverage with minimal visual impact. Zero Site is a smart and compact solution suited to hot-spot deployments that improves revenues by meeting user demands on network coverage and data with reduced operational costs.

Salalah Gardens Mall attracts massive numbers of tourists and visitors during the khareef and was tested in the pilot Zero Site solution deployment in time for the season start.

Eng Said Abdullah al Ajmi vice president of Omantel Integrated Networks Unit said 'To stay ahead in the telecom market we have to continuously enhance our infrastructure with innovative and pioneering technologies that will increase our network capabilities and reduce costs. Our partnership with Ericsson has allowed us to boost our network.'