5G – a key driver of Jordan’s digital future

By Faisal Qamhiyah, Chief Executive Officer of Umniah and Kevin Murphy, Vice President and Head of Ericsson Levant Countries

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is witnessing a fast-paced digital transformation. Under the leadership of visionary governments, countries are developingflourishing technology ecosystemswith the aim of building thriving digital societies.

5G for the first time in Jordan

In February 2023, Ericsson and Umniahlaunched the first phase of 5G technology deployment in the country. This marks a significant milestone towards a smarter, and more sustainable future for Jordan, enabling Umniah to cater to ever-increasing data traffic and subscriber growth that require new levels of spectral efficiency and flexibility. In addition, it will create new business opportunities due to enhanced mobile broadband and massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) solutions. These technologies will increase the network coverage andhelp reducing total energy consumption.Fixed wireless access, one of the features of 5G networks, is a prime example of an early use case for 5G monetization. Among other benefits, it will allow Umniah to offer home broadband and TV services in locations where fiber is not accessible.Indoor 5G connectivity will also drive new business use cases like healthcare, Industry 4.0 and cloud gaming.

5G and the Kingdom’s digital transformation journey

The partnership between Ericsson and Umniah will play a crucial role in Jordan's digital transformation journey, as both companies collaborate to develop and deploy advanced telecommunications infrastructure in the country. With the potential to usher in a new era of connectivity, the joint collaboration in 5G technology will enable a diverse range of new applications and services that will shape Jordan's digital future. As key players in this journey, Ericsson and Umniah's critical role in the deployment of advanced 5G telecommunications infrastructure in the country will drive economic growth, support sustainability, and enhance the lives of people in Jordan.

Sustainable Economic Impact

5G is poised to have a significant positive impact on Jordan’s long-term economic growth and sustainable development – from increasedenterprise productivity to technological advancement. Improved networks and coverage will boost national resilience by strengthening connectivity in vital sectors, such as healthcare and emergency services. 5G adoption can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by supporting digital transformation in agriculture, freight and logistics, smart factories, and construction.

Enhanced rural 5G coverage could deliver up to 1.8 percent uplift in long-term GDP from agriculture by promoting sustainable farming methods, increasing efficiency, and reducing agricultural waste. And with a mobile phone penetration in the countryexceeding 100 percent, 5G has the potential to become a key driver of digital and financial inclusion, as it can bridge the digital divide in areas with poor fixed infrastructure availability.

It is scaling faster than any previous mobile network generation.The November 2022 edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report forecasts that in the MENA region, 5G subscriptions will grow from 24 million to 270 million by 2028, accounting for 31 percent of all mobile connections. The strong uptake is driven by greater device availability and early large-scale deployments in certain markets.

Potential economic benefits of 5G networks vastly outweigh investment costs. 5G energy-efficient productshelp reduce network power consumption and boost capacity, allowing communication service providers (CSPs) to build greener networks without compromising on performance. Other advantages include high speed and low latency.In most countries,5G adoption is expected to generate a GDP contribution that isthree to seven times higher than the incremental cost of extending coverage.

Ericsson and Umniah’s Partnership and Digital Ambitions

As a global leader in the 5G space, Ericsson has redefined the way networks are deployed with a digital, agile, and modular suite of tools and services that enable customers to fully capitalize on their valuable assets. It is no surprise that more than half of the 228 live 5G networks worldwide are using equipment from Ericsson. In line with this, Umniah has been leading the charge in Jordan's digital transformation landscape and was even ranked as the fastest network amongst local telecom operators in the third quarter of 2021. 

The collaboration between Umniah and Ericsson have placed Jordan on a journey towards limitless connectivity that will present boundless possibilities for its government, businesses, and people.With Ericsson's cutting-edge technologies and Umniah's forward-thinking approach, Jordan is poised for growth and leadership in the 5G space. As Ericsson and Umniah continue to work closely with the government to achieve their digital ambitions, this partnership will serve as a testament to the transformative power of technology in shaping the future of societies.