AMMAN - The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) on Wednesday announced it is working on creating a suitable environment for the introduction of 3G services in the Kingdom.
The TRC also is planning to authorise the use of radio frequencies in the 2GHz band for delivering 3G services, TRC CEO Ahmad Hiasat said yesterday at the inauguration of the "Mobile Communications and 3G Services Forum".
The TRC also launched a consultation process to enable all interested parties to provide input regarding the introduction of 3G services in the country.
TRC sources told The Jordan Times yesterday that the consultation paper is available on its website, noting that it was ready to receive feedback and comments from all parties involved.
Hiasat, who is also chairman of the TRC board of commissioners, urged all interested parties to play a full and active part in the consultation process, according to a TRC statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times.
"We believe that the best way to achieve TRC's vision for the telecommunications sector is through the promotion of pro-competitive policies," Hiasat said, stressing that its mission is to create an advanced ICT and postal service environment that is efficient, competitive and accessible to all, effectively supporting the Kingdom's socio-economic development.
Competition in the Jordanian telecommunications sector has increased, together with the number of services provided to users, while the quality of these services has improved and their cost has decreased, the TRC noted.
Accordingly, the TRC is committed to the development of new and effective conditions for competition in the sector in order to fulfil its vision and meet its legal duties and obligations, a TRC statement said.
Forum participants yesterday discussed the mobile sector in Jordan, which has enjoyed significant growth in recent years, providing a range of services to some 4.8 million subscribers through three GSM operators and one iDen operator by the end of 2007.
The growth in customer numbers, the choice and range of available services and the downward trend in service tariffs are all testament to the evidence of competition, the TRC statement indicated.
Also yesterday, the TRC announced the results of studies performed by its consultants, which indicated potential for further growth in the mobile sector and the possibility of new entrants through granting an additional licence for radio frequencies from (G2/G3), in addition to 3G licences via a process of comprehensive bidding to take place before the end of 2008, allowing all licensed companies as well as new ones to participate in the process.
In addition, users can enjoy new applications such as video calling, mobile e-commerce and broadband audiovisual services, according to the statement.
The TRC's plans for the sector have been developed to build upon the results of comprehensive studies performed by Eurostrategies, the Brussels-based European consultancy that provides technical assistance to the TRC through the "Support to Regulatory Reform and Privatisation" Programme sponsored by the Delegation of the European Commission to Jordan.
3G Wireless
3G is the third generation of mobile phone standards and technology, superseding 2G and preceding 4G.
Under the 3G technologies, network operators can offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network capacity through improved spectral efficiency.
The services include wide-area wireless voice telephony, video calls and broadband wireless data, all in a mobile environment.
By Mohammad Ghazal
© Jordan Times 2008
