Exploring the Obstacles Facing the Adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT): A Case Study in Oman

Since our arrival into the 21st century, the concept of inter-connected devices has been gaining much attention, and having everyday objects communicate with each other over the Internet to create a digital world is becoming increasingly popular. These objects may now be controlled and managed remotely, thereby offering vastly increased convenience and efficiency. The nature of these devices can range from being a heart monitoring transplant to a home thermostat. This phenomenon is widely known as the Internet of Things (IoT). Although there has been speculation about the tremendous growth potential of this concept there are several concerns, which the industry has tried to address over the years. This research work investigates the challenges facing the adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in Oman with the aim of providing a set of recommendations to overcome these issues that limit its integration into the mainstream infrastructure. Based on the nature of the challenges that the domain faces, they were studied under the dimensions of 'Standardization', 'Security and Privacy', and 'Bandwidth'. The research also discusses the outlook of the public in accepting such a technological platform in Oman, this being pivotal in determining the success of the platform. Interviews and questionnaires were the selected instruments used to drive this research, these having proved instrumental in gaining a deeper understanding of the applicability of the Internet of Things (IoT) platform in relation to the local context. Research findings show that 'Security and Privacy' stands out clearly from other concerns such as the possibility of Internet Bandwidth constraints to support such a platform, as well as the setting up of a common set of standards that governs the platform for interoperability and compatibility. The public lack of confidence in the technology fuels their resistance to change regarding the adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in Oman.