Jordan opens door for new telecom operator

Jordanian telecom authority on Monday opened the door for bidders to obtain licenses to establish a new telecom operator in the country. The Jordanian Telecommunications Regulatory Commission said in a statement that local, regional and international investors as well as current operators can submit bids for new licenses to provide 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation services. Bidders have until Sept. 1 to send in their tenders, the statement said. However, Jordan's existing three telecom operators have long been objecting to any plan to set up a fourth one, citing saturation of the market. n Jordan, the mobile penetration rate stands at about 146 percent.