Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Jordanian government says it will seriously look into any requests by existing telecommunication operators to acquire frequencies to provide 4G services, after it turned down two bids from other companies, Jordan Times reported. The government rejected bids from Kulacom Jordan and US-based Ameriphone.

Mohammad Taani, chief commissioner of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, said the government rejected the bids because Kulacom was incapable of providing a financial guarantee, which is against the tender's conditions. He said Ameriphone provided a financial guarantee from a foreign bank, but the government needs a guarantee from a licensed bank in Jordan.

ICT Minister Azzam Sleit said the ministry has directed the TRC to take the necessary procedures to ensure the provision of 4G services in Jordan as soon as possible. Sleit said the government is ready to look into any official requests it receives to provide 4G in Jordan from local telecom companies or those working abroad.

The country's three existing operators, Orange Jordan, Zain Jordan and Umniah, have repeatedly called on the government to cancel the tender, warning that licensing a fourth operator will negatively affect the market, where mobile penetration is more than 150 percent.

*Telecompaper