Fastlink puts in place a strategic plan for offering new and up to date services targeting all segments of Jordanian society

The aim is to achieve a qualitative leap forward in the services provided in the mobile communications market in the Kingdom, and to expand the scope of the service to encompass all segments of Jordanian society.

Fastlink, through its participation in the Expo and the Arab Telecommunications Conference 2005 held in Bahrain between 21-23 March under the principal patronage of the MTC- exhibited the totality of the comprehensive and advanced data services offered to its subscribers which rely on GPRS and EDGE technologies, and which reflected the immense developments witnessed by the mobile communications sector in the Jordanian Kingdom, as well as the contribution of Fastlink to introducing the latest technologies. This contributed to achieving great advancements in telecommunications applications and upgrading their capabilities, and therefore, contributes to the development of the business sector in the Kingdom and provides the necessary infrastructure for its progress.

The Company, through the Expo and the conference held under the patronage of the Bahraini Minister of Transport Sheikh Ali Bin Khalifeh Bin Salman Al-Khalifeh, made presentations on the latest information services that greatly contributed to fostering new marketing methods for the business sector and enriching the expertise and knowledge of the participants, and to generating enthusiasm and pleasure insofar as the uses of mobile phones, which have exceeded merely providing voice communication to offer more advanced and complex services.

It is the intention of Fastlink, the leader in the sector of mobile communications in the Jordanian Kingdom, to launch a number of services that rely on high-quality technologies, which draw upon the great advances witnessed by the mobile communications sector in the world, and which depend on the increased demand of the individual and corporate sectors for the services made possible by these technologies.

According to previous statements by the CEO of Fastlink Eng. Mohammed Saqer the new services will rely to a large extent on the latest technologies in the field, emanating from a clear strategic vision which is based on future developments in mobile phones technologies, and the changes occurring in the local, regional and international markets. This will be rooted in diversifying activities, and developing competitive capabilities and the elements of success.

MTC will participate in the EXPO through a huge wing whose area is 192 m2, which will include its companies, namely, MTC Vodafone- Kuwait, MTC- Bahrain, and Athir Telecom- Iraq, MTC Touch- Lebanon, in addition to Fastlink.

Fastlink is currently evaluating offering the international communications service in the wake of the termination of the monopoly of Jordan Telecom as the only provider of fixed lines in Jordan. However, negotiations are underway between Fastlink and Jordan Telecom as well as a number of service providers in the world with a view to attaining a new mechanism for offering international communications to the Company's subscribers.

Fastlink, which this year celebrates the tenth anniversary since its founding, declares that offering international communications directly will lead to a reduction in the rates of the service as well as the rates for international mobile phones for its customers. This means that a larger number of subscribers will benefit from these services. Moreover, the Company has lately completed the implementation of an ambitious plan to develop its network to tailor for the new services.

The Company has maintained its leading position in the Middle East region in data services. In fact, the revenues from this service have increased from 8% in 2002 to 10% in 2003, as a result of increased awareness of the data services in Jordanian society, which represents the highest rate among Arab countries.

Fastlink has also developed the GPRS technology into an Internet umbrella that encompasses Jordan in its entirety- even the tiniest corner in Jordan. This will enable the subscribers to access the World Wide Web from any place, irrespective of the availability of the necessary structures.

Moreover, the Company has reinforced the dissemination of this technology by canceling monthly subscription fees, and restricting cost to actual use. The Company also carried out pioneering experiments to test the international mobile service, GPRS service and multi-media service on a regional level. Fastlink operated these services in cooperation with regional service companies to serve the customers. In fact, the GPRS service is available between Jordan and a large number of Arab and European countries in addition to America and Canada. In October 2003, Fastlink launched the first live show for the third generation of mobile phones for its customers, the information technology and telecommunications sector, universities and schools.

The Arab Telecommunications Expo 2005 is being organized to create awareness about the standard attained by this sector in the Middle East region in general. The Expo is an annual meeting of those operating in the telecommunications industry, which is witnessing rapid change and the involvement of new players.

The Expo will be held in the shadow of the transformations witnessed by a number of Arab markets including the Jordan, Saudi, Emirates, Kuwaiti and Bahraini markets- as well as other markets. It emphasizes the role of the governments in encouraging the participation of the private sector, and therefore, increases the rates of growth.

The companies of the MTC Group held lectures and seminars through which it talks about its experiences and the services it offers in its markets, which have earned it an excellent reputation in the regional and international markets.