The telecom reforms come soon after the establishment of the Omani Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) in 2002. The role of the administratively and financially independent body is to open the telecoms market and regulate the sector. TRA member Mohsin al-Hafeedh told the Times of Oman that opening the telecom market for competition, transferring the management and operations of telecom services for all citizens regardless of their financial position or geographical locations were among the highpoints of the government's reform drive.