3G service to be launched in Jordan in Q1 2010

AMMAN, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Jordan Telecom Group (JTG) announced Sunday that it will introduce the third generation (3G) service in Jordan in the first quarter of 2010.

The service will be initially operational in the Jordanian capital of Amman and nearby governorates, JTG CEO Nayla Khawam said at a press conference, adding that the service will be expanded gradually to cover Jordan's 12 governorates.

The JTG, which in August won a tender to introduce the service, announced Sunday that it has recently signed an agreement with Ericsson under which the latter will help the group in launching the third generation mobile technology during the first three months of 2010.

Under the deal, Ericsson will design and establish the network for the 3G service, which includes the implementation of several broadcast stations across Jordan.

Ericsson will also operate these stations for one year and manage their quality, in addition to providing technical support services and other supporting services such as training and others, Tareq al-Saadi, Head of Account Unit for Ericsson in the North Middle East region, said in a statement released by the JTG.

In August, Jordan's Telecommunications Regulatory Commission granted a license to the JTG to introduce the service in return for 50 million Jordanian dinars (70.5 U.S. dollars). The JTG will enjoy a year of exclusivity, after which other mobile operators, including Zain, Umnai and Xpress will be allowed to introduce the service.

3G service is a "fairly" new service in the field of telecommunication industry and forms an important turning point in making visual phone calls, sending and receiving multimedia messages, providing fast and efficient wireless internet connection, in addition to providing better audio coverage.