‘2.5m mobile phones shipped to Jordan annually’

AMMAN — Some 2.5 million mobiles are shipped to Jordan annually, with demand expected to surge in the next five years, according to China-based international technology company Lenovo. 

The number is growing year on year, Sharay Shams, head of smartphone business for the Middle East at Lenovo, told The Jordan Times this week at an event to launch several types of smartphones in the local market. 

"We expect a huge surge in demand on smartphones, especially with the launch of 4G [fourth generation] services in Jordan," he said. 

Zain Jordan has already launched 4G services in the Kingdom and Orange Jordan, which has obtained the licence, is planning to launch the service before the end of June. 

"4G will drive mobile data usage, which will eventually increase adoption of smartphones," Shams added. 

Long-term evolution (LTE)/4G technology features higher data transfer speeds and capacities, providing up to 150 megabits per second in Internet speed.

According to the Arab Advisers Group, smartphone penetration in Jordan currently stands at more than 50 per cent. 

"Smartphone ownership will boom as prices are becoming very affordable," Shams said. 

Describing competition in the smartphone market as tough, he said there are plenty of affordable 4G-enabled devices at present in Jordan. 

Several ICT experts have stressed in remarks to The Jordan Times that the availability of affordable smartphones is key to boosting usage of 4G services, as some 7 per cent of phones currently used by mobile holders are 4G-enabled. 

Telecommunications Regulatory Commission figures indicate that there are more than 11.1 million active mobile subscriptions in Jordan.