Amman vows to protect virtual operators
Amman is giving new mobile phone companies protection from incumbent operators, in a bid to encourage more operators to enter the market.The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission says it will license an unlimited number of virtual network operators (VNOs) to sell branded mobile phone services using an existing operator's network.If incumbent operators try to stall negotiations with potential VNOs, the regulator says it will force the incumbent to restart the negotiations. In addition, under newly introduced rules, operators will have to wait six months after losing a customer to a VNO before attempting to win them back. However, VNOs will have to give 10 per cent of their revenues to the commission.Two UAE-based companies, phone retailer Axiom Telecom and start-up operator Friendli, have both indicated they would like to set up as VNOs.There are four existing mobile operators in the kingdom, Kuwait's Zain, Umniah, part of Bahrain's Batelco; Orange, part of Jordan Telecom, and the local Xpress. Oger Telecom, which is owned by Saudi Oger, has ruled out setting up a VNO in Jordan.
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