Amman, March 25, 2009 -
The service is offered through Zain e-GO; a USB device and first of its kind in the region

Zain Internet Service provider (ISP) and Mada (a consortium between Zain Jordan and Mada Communications Group) announced the formal launch of the 4G wireless broadband WiMax E-version service. The announcement was made today during an event held by both companies under the auspice of the Minister of Information and

Communications Technology Eng. Bassem Al Rousan. Launched for the first time in Jordan, the service offers high speed wireless broadband internet to customers.

The 4G wireless broadband internet service, available in the market on the commercial level starting today, will be delivered through end-to-end Motorola WiMax solution. This service is considered to be the first of its kind in the Kingdom in terms of speed, strength of coverage, geographic outreach, and the availability of a user friendly plug and play devise.

H.E. Eng Bassem Al Rousan referred to the important role that the WiMax service will be able to play in increasing competition within the fixed telecommunication sector and bridging the digital gap in the market. He further stressed the importance of the active cooperation between both the public and private sectors in achieving one of the telecommunications sector’s national strategy’s most important goals; increasing internet penetration to 50%.

According to Zain ISP General Manager Abdallah Faza, the wireless broadband internet service will initially target Amman, Zarqa and Irbid and will later expand to include all parts of Jordan. Faza added that with the new service, the country will be transformed into a "hot spot" for customers who can use the service from their homes, offices and while on the go. Faza further noted that Zain will offer this service to both companies and individuals through either Zain Connect (CPE) or the Zain e-Go; a USB devise that can fit in one’s pocket.

"The new service targets all segments of society including individuals, companies and institutions" said Faza, who added that the availability of such service contributes to strengthening Jordan’s infrastructure and is positively reflected on the investment environment and on attracting potential investors. The launch of the service is also in line with His Majesty King Abdullah’s directives towards increasing the level of internet penetration within the country and transcending to a knowledge-based economy, given that the current penetration rate is below the desired levels.

Faza also noted that launching the new service represents a significant milestone in Jordan’s telecommunications sector. "We seek to meet the different aspirations of our customers as well as exceed their expectations, which is why we continuously make sure that we lead the market in terms of launching new services and technologies" he said.

By launching the new service, Zain ISP seeks to contribute to making a change in the local internet market by offering a number of services that target all segments of society

with affordable prices, high quality service and unique privileges that serve its customers’ needs.

Mada Jordan’s General Manager Medhat Amer said: "As of today, Mada’s wireless network will support around 250,000 users". He added noted that with the launch of the latest generation of the WiMax service internationally, Mada will offer, through the end-to-end Motorola WiMAX solution, an ideal and practical solution for its customers that will facilitate their daily as it relies more on internet services. Today, customers will be able to subscribe to a high speed, high quality wireless internet service whether they were in or outside of their homes without the need for fixed infrastructure.

"The main differentiator of the new product that Zain is launching today is that unlike other available equipment in the market, it has better coverage and reliability. It is a plug-and-play USB device that fits literally in the pocket. Jordanian consumers will be the first in the middle East to experience this type of user-friendly" he said.

On the occasion Charles Hague, Mada Group Co-Founder & Managing Director said that the wise direction of HM King Abdullah II and his government represented by both the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and the telecommunications regulatory committee has paved the way for international companies to engage in healthy competition. This will help provide the best products for the Jordanian citizen who will witness, through the launch of this new service, an excellent service that exceeds what is currently available in the market".

Hague added that Jordan is the most competitive telecom market in the region, thanks to the vision of HM King Abdullah II the second and to the support of His Government,

adding that consumer broad band connectivity in the Kingdom will contribute to achieving high penetration rates that will reach 50% by 2011.

Hague said that benefits to Jordanian consumers in this sector have been recorded since the entry of Mada into the telecom market with local data operators cutting their rates to retain their customers. He added that Mada, together with its technology partners, built the most advanced reliable wireless broadband network in the region. "Mada Jordan fiber network, which the company is preparing and expecting to complete during the coming few months, will also serve as a transit hub for Syria, Iraq and Lebanon" he concluded.