Jordan’s Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) has stated that its attempts to ensure a consistent standard of internet service during the pandemic have led to “significant improvement” in access speeds.
The regulator claims that between the beginning of March and the end of May, mobile broadband users saw their average download speeds boosted by 54% after it provided operators with free access to additional spectrum.
The regulator alleges that it was the first in the world to afford this privilege to service providers. With Jordan implementing phases of lockdown, access to extra spectrum meant that operators could handle the ensuing surge in demand for data.
During the country’s lockdown, data traffic increased by 8% with download speeds up by 73%. Dynamic monitoring systems enabled the TRC to check how the additional spectrum affected key performance indicators throughout the lockdown.
The TRC also helped to orchestrate Jordan’s ICT response to the country’s first cases of Covid-19. Along with the CTOs of network operators and the country’s government, the regulator formed an emergency committee to coordinate action in the sector throughout the pandemic.