Umniah wins fixed broadband wireless access license
in Jordan
Umniah, the latest telecommunications operator
to launch in Jordan, has recently won the first
ever 3.5 GHz FBWA (Fixed Broadband Wireless Access)
license awarded by the Telecommunication Regulatory
Commission (TRC) in Jordan following a successful
JD 8.3m (US$11.8m) bid.
Umniah, the 96% owned by Bahrain-based Batelco
Group, will now rollout alternative local access
infrastructure and deliver wide coverage and affordable
broadband Internet access and voice services to
customers in Jordan. Internet users will also be
able to utilize VoIP applications and download and
upload multimedia -- video streaming solutions.
The successful bid is part of Umniah's ongoing
strategy of providing sophisticated yet competitive
services to increase the Internet penetration in
the kingdom. Being one of the latest solutions in
wireless Internet, Umniah's WiMAX technology offers
advanced Internet infrastructure for users in Jordan
characterized by high speed download and ease of
access
Peter Kaliaropoulos, Chief Executive of Batelco,
stressed Umniah's objective of delivering affordable
choice and innovative fixed and mobile services
to consumers and business: "Whilst we are thrilled
to have secured such a license, it's the Jordanian
consumer who has won today." "Effective
competition is about delivering services and value
and not about being controlled by frustrating and
time consuming local access practices."
"For the first time ever, Umniah will be able
to bypass a third-party infrastructure and deliver
true value and a quality of service direct to the
consumer without any dependence on our competitors,"
he added.
According to Kaliaropoulos, Umniah is the most
innovative mobile provider in Jordan and a leader
in the application and usage of cutting-edge wireless
technologies in GSM, GPRS, EDGE and now WiMAX.
"Umniah offers national coverage and is designing
and developing innovative on-demand value-added
services and solutions, through its network, which
is fully-enabled for migration to 3G mobility standards,"
he said.
This is the third significant investment by Batelco
in Jordan, according to Kaliaropoulos: "Batelco
is very pleased to have had the opportunity to make
a significant commitment to the telecommunications
industry in Jordan through its investments in Umniah
and Batelco Jordan. This recent license win by Umniah
is excellent news."
