Fastlink crosses the 1-million-subscriber threshold

According to Fastlink's latest figures, its subscriber base reached 1,031,000 in course of 2004.

Fastlink CEO and General Manager Mohammad Saqer said: "Our team has succeeded in making Fastlink the biggest success role model in the Middle East, now that it is the choice of a million Jordanians who have expressed their confidence in the company and in the services that we offer them."

Speaking at a press conference held today at the Hyatt Amman, Saqer added: "Fastlink has achieved a unique level of success that has made it a role model for the whole region.

Saqr announced that the next phase will see new state of the art services that reflect the latest developments in mobile telephony, which will take mobile telephones uses into a new era. This reflects Fastlink's ambition to play a pivotal role in the development of the telecommunications sector locally and regionally.

He said that Fastlink has developed its information service allowing customers to control their accounts, to know the number of minutes consumed, and their bills. This was done by redesigning Fastlink's internet portal to cope with this service.

Saqer also pointed out that has issued Jordan's first pre-approved credit card in cooperation with Standard Chartered Bank, which gives its user privileges that include a 50-day period of grace before repayment, immediate cash credit, preferential reductions, and a points and awards program.

In addition, Fastlink recently announced a worldwide roaming service for its prepaid cards. Among the other services that set Fastlink apart is the "twinning service," which
allows subscribers to have two SIM cards bearing the same number, one for the cellular telephone and one for the car phone.

Saqer emphasized that Fastlink is still at the forefront in the region, as the first company in the field of advanced information services.

He indicated that Fastlink now sees the entry of new competitors, yet it has succeeded in consolidating its position in the Jordanian market and to secure the largest market share.

Saqer said that, since its establishment, Fastlink has set constant and deeply rooted traditions in the Jordanian market, which formed the solid foundation for the mobile telecommunications market, and for building a modern information based economy, in the context of a fast-changing and developing technology, which made Fastlink one of the largest pioneering companies, and the most adept at receiving and adapting modern technology in Jordan and the region.

Fastlink succeeded in spreading mobile telephone use among all social groups in record time, and achieved unprecedented penetration rates, building a large subscriber base after building the largest distribution network in the Kingdom.

Fastlink was the first to introduce WAP, GPRS, and MMS services to the Kingdom as well as commercial banking and other services.

Regarding the network, Saqer pointed out that Fastlink's network covers 99.9% of the inhabited areas of Jordan, and it offers its services through more than 1500 cellular stations spread in all parts of the Kingdom.

The network is considered one of the best by international standards, since it has reduced traffic congestion to 0.5%, compared to the international limit of 2%. Interrupted calls have also dropped to 0.6%, compared with the international standard of 1%.

Saqer said that Fastlink's success is due to the efficiency of its Jordanian staff, who have also contributed to the establishment and construction of cellular networks in a number of Arab countries.

"The company is proud that its progress has been at pace with the modernization and restructuring of Jordan's telecommunications sector, which is the first pioneering project in the region. Fastlink now studies investing in a number of services, indicating that Fastlink has the experience and the ability to compete and offer the best."

Fastlink honors its subscribers and all Jordanians who have given it their confidence, in recognition of which it has launched social and developmental projects and sponsored initiatives in social and cultural affairs as well as sports and youth projects, in addition to its contribution to projects in sustainable social development, health, and welfare.

Fastlink has also sponsored the computerization of the whole science school syllabus in the context of Jordan's e-learning initiative, created a partnership with the King Hussein Cancer Center, and created a mobile clinic that treats children in under-privileged areas. Regarding youth and sports, Fastlink sponsored the national football team and Al-Faisali and Wihdat football teams, established a basketball team that achieved many victories in local and regional tournaments, launched the Harat football tournament that aims to promote football among Jordan's youth, sponsored Jordan's national equestrian team, and sponsored the Olympic team that will compete in the Athens games.