Orange Jordan signs agreement with Ericsson to launch 3G mobile services in Q1 of 2010

In a joint news conference attended by officials of both companies and held today in the capital Amman to announce the event, Nayla Khawam, CEO of Jordan Telecom Group (Orange), confirmed the importance of the agreement, which comes for the benefit of companies, existing and potential Orange Jordan's customers, as well as the Jordanian market in general.

Khawam further confirmed the operator's commitment to cooperating with Ericsson in order to ensure the establishment of the new network according to the latest systems and technologies in this area so as to offer 3G services with exclusivity in the first phase, which will strengthen the leadership position of Orange in the Jordanian market.

She also expressed her confidence in the capabilities of Ericsson to meet this technical and functional challenge to implement the network in stages so as to achieve many of the benefits thereof; to provide better voice service coverage and wireless high speed Internet connection, as well as to enable the user to benefit from a set of new services, including making video calls, sending and receiving multimedia messages, and others.

She explained that the service will be operational over several stages; the first will cover Amman and some governorates and will be followed by other consequent stages that include other governorates.

Khawam believes that the provision of 3G services with breakthrough capacities, capabilities and services will enhance the development of Orange's competitive position in the Jordanian market, especially as it was able to attract more than 1.8 million 2G customers to date.

She stressed as well that the group is committed to providing the best telecom solutions that meet international standards to help achieve the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II in promoting the development of the telecom sector in the region and thus help Jordan become a regional telecom hub.

Khawam also expressed her gratitude for the cooperation shown by the TRC and the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and their keenness to make the service available in the market, stressing that granting Orange Jordan the license to offer this innovative technology service is but a proof of confidence in the group's capability and ability to provide such a first-of-its-kind technology in the Kingdom.

For his part, Tareq Al Saadi, Head of Account Unit for Ericsson in the North Middle East region, stated that Ericsson is proud to be selected by Orange Jordan to design and construct the new network, which includes the implementation of several broadcast stations across the Kingdom, as well as to operate them for a year now and manage their quality, in addition to providing technical support services and other supporting services such as training and others.

He stressed that the selection of Ericsson by Orange is based on its considerable expertise in the field, its international reputation and its keenness to deliver with high efficiency and according to the set time schedule, as well as its regional and international leadership in the establishment of 3G networks and beyond.

Al Saadi explained that the 3G services ensure a service quality breakthrough and especially information transfer and data download at speeds of up to several times the current speed, which also ensures the provision of more highly sophisticated services, in the present and the future.

He noted that Ericsson will increase its presence in the Jordanian market through the agreement signed with Orange Jordan, which includes enhancing the level of cooperation and partnership for the mutual benefit of the two companies, especially that they are both endowed with vast experience in the market.

He further declared that the partnership between Ericsson and Orange Jordan to establish the new network will help achieve many of the developmental and social goals through the development of the telecommunications sector and consequently many other sectors in addition to the creation of more job opportunities for national cadres and the promotion of new investment in the Kingdom in general.

He pointed out that the introduction of 3G services in the local market will be a quantum leap at the level of services provided by the sector, which will reflect positively on the reputation of the sector and the performance of other sectors in Jordan.

Furthermore, Al Saadi confirmed that telecommunications are the engine of growth in the region and the world, and a factor in improving the consumers' quality of life; they also have a positive impact on firms' growth and profits, and facilitate public services, adding that Ericsson applies this approach to sustainable business growth as it creates profit opportunities by providing solutions to help industries reduce vulnerability to the environment while increasing profits.

He additionally noted that the solutions and innovations that have been already introduced by Ericsson in the region enabled the telecommunications sector to reduce energy consumption and costs, achieve environmental goals and reach remote areas easily, for example its wind-powered Tower Tube.

In mid-August 2009, Orange Jordan acquired the license to provide 3G services in the Kingdom for a 15-year period, in exchange of JD50m in order to be the sole and exclusive mobile telecom operator to offer the service in the local market.