The Jordanian communications company, Jordan Telecom, said Wednesday it has bought the country's main Internet service provider, Global One, for $12.8 million.
Jordan Telecom said in a statement that the deal will allow it not only to "supply the necessary infrastructure to the internet service in Jordan but also to offer this service directly to the public and in a wider form."
France Telecom is Jordan Telecom's strategic partner, having bought 40 percent of its stock in January 2000.
Global One was one of the fruits of the economic summit of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) held in Amman in 1995. It was created in February the following year by the Jordanian company Assass and Global One International.
There are nine internet service providers in Jordan, but Global One says that it alone accounts for at least 50 percent of the internet market in the kingdom.
Separately, Jordan Telecom's chief executive Pierre Mattei Wednesday announced that an international forum called Convergence 2001 will be held February 8 in Amman, aimed at detailing the development of the information technology and communications industry in the country.
France Telecom boss Michel Bon is due to take part in the forum, which is being organized by Jordan Telecom and the association of Jordanian information technology companies. — (AFP, Amman)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
