Telecoms & IT

Jordan’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector is one of the most developed and robust in the region, bolstered by 15 years of industry friendly policies and a young population of digital consumers. Mobile subscribership soared from 3.13m users, representing 57% penetration in 2005, to 11.1m users and 147% penetration at the end of 2014. The market has seen consumers shift from personal computers and voice/SMS-centric mobile services to a data-driven mobile broadband market, with the popularity of 3G services increasing rapidly since their launch. Meanwhile state support for the IT sector is strong, and in 2010 the government launched a flagship early-stage seed investment company with the goal of supporting 500 new start-ups. The company provides between $30,000 and $70,000 in seed funding for various startup enterprises, and had invested in 95 companies by early 2015.

This chapter contains an interview with Majd Shweikeh, Minister of Information and Communications Technology.