Jordan Announces Delayed 3G License Tender

Jordan's telecoms regulator, the TRC has published the tender document for its 3G licenses. The regulator has set a reserve price of JOD25 million (US$35.5 million) per block of 5+5 Mhz spectrum. Bidders will also be able to bid for an optional block of GSM spectrum, enabling any new entrant to provide both 2G and 3G services.

The closing date for tender submissions is the 26th May 2009, with the winner to be announced the following day.

Its worth mentioning that TRC had intended to release the Tender document last December, but it was postponed due to requests submitted by Zain, Orange Mobile and XPress companies, in order to have more time to complete studying their business plans, and due to the public holidays in December which prevented them from completing the needed procedures.

The Mobile World subscriber tracker notes that the country ended last year with just under 6.3 million mobile phone users - representing a population penetration level of 89%. The country currently has four mobile network operators, and three WiMAX networks.

On the web: Telecommunications Regulatory Commission - Mobile World

Posted to the site on 1st April 2009