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Introduction
The global economy is increasingly, more open and
competitive. Countries that are more innovative
and productive are capturing a greater share of
the world’s trade, investment and jobs. In this
context, His Majesty King Abdullah II has
pointed Jordan in the direction of becoming a
knowledge-based economy and society.
The success in the knowledge economy demands
increasingly higher skill levels, especially
greater facility with information and
communications technologies. Accordingly, the
government of Jordan decided to reform the
national education system to foster more
creative, critical thinking and collaborative
capacities in its students and graduates as well
as its adult learners. Increased opportunities
to learn with computers and networks is a
central part of this transformation.
In order for the Jordanian citizen to have ready
access to Information and Communications
Technologies (ICT), Jordan’s schools,
universities and colleges need to be connected
via networks at a level and speed that can
support the rapid growth of network traffic
demand over the long term. Equally important,
the knowledge stations, which provide convenient
and affordable public access to computers and
the Internet, need improved network support.
In line with this vision, MoICT started doing
its due-diligence to explore the potential means
of establishing the required connectivity in
early 2001. As a result, the Jordanian
Government, at the September 2002 ICT forum
launched the “Connecting Jordanians Initiative”
(CJI) which aims to deliver the government’s
drive to make computers and networks more widely
available to the public.
As a result the need for a broadband fiber
network was determined as a major requirement
for the success of the CJI initiative.
Accordingly, MoICT established the National
Broadband Network Program (NBN Program).
NBN Program Scope:
1.
University Broadband Network - connecting 8 public
universities at 9 sites.
On January 14th, 2003 the Government
of Jordan has approved the implementation of the
University Broadband Network. MoICT was mandated
to implement the network and hand it over to
JUNET, a non profit organization that represents
the Jordan’s public universities, that is
responsible to operate and maintain the network.
2.
School Broadband Network, connecting 3300 public
schools, 100 knowledge stations, 17 public
community colleges and 12 learning resource
centers.
On June 25th, 2003 the Government of
Jordan has approved the implementation of the
School Broadband Network. MoICT was mandated to
implement and operate the network.
NBN Program
Objectives:
§
Contributing to development of the Jordanian
Educational System:
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Promote the usage of ICT for learning purposes at
universities, schools, community colleges and
learning resources Kingdom wide through a fiber
optics broadband network.
§
Contributing to development of the Jordanian
Social System:
-
Support the knowledge stations in developing the
ICT capabilities of communities through
broadband access to applications and the
internet.
-
Enhance the deployment of ICT throughout the
Kingdom by laying the foundation for new
services.
§
Contributing to development of the Jordanian
economic system:
-
Stimulate economic development by subcontracting
the build up of the network to local and foreign
contractors.
§
Ministry of Information and Communications
Technology (MoICT)
§
Ministry of Education (MoE)
§
Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE)
§
Jordan Education Initiative (JEI)
§
Jordan Universities Network (JUNET) a
non profit organization
§
Public Security Department
§
Royal Jordanian Air Force
§
Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA)
§
National Electric Power Company (Nepco)
§
Electricity Distribution Company (EDCO)
§
Irbid District Electricity Company (IDECO)
§
Batelco
Jordan
NBN Program Accomplishments:
University Broadband Network:
§
Constructed a Broadband Network connecting all 8
public Universities and the network is
operational since June 30th ,2004 and was
officially launched on September 13th under the
Royal Patronage of HM King Abdullah II (The
operation and maintenance of the network is now
the responsibility of JUNET)
§
Constructed the network through utilization
contract to use dark fiber cables
from National Electric Power Company (Nepco)
as a backbone for this network. The connection
of universities sites with Nepco’s sites was
done through civil works, fiber cables and
equipments through MoICT and Nepco.
§
Signed an indefeasible right of use agreement with
JUNET and Nepco.
§
Connected the Ministry of Higher Education to the
University Network.
§
Connected the University Network through a
consolidated internet gateway
§
Connected the University Network to the European
educational network GEANT- Eumedconnect
School Broadband Network
§
Completed the connection of 227 schools in Amman
(including civil woks, fiber cabling, and
equipment installation).
§
Completed the civil works for 68 school in Aqaba
under the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority
(ASEZA), fiber cabling and equipment
installation are planed to be completed in 2007.
§
Signed a poles rental agreement with “Electricity
Distribution Company” (Edco) to install aerial
fiber cables on their poles in the company’s
coverage area.
§
Signed a poles rental agreement with “Irbid
District Electricity Company” (Ideco) to install
aerial fiber cables on their poles in the
company’s coverage area.
§
Signed a strategic partnership agreement with
Cisco Systems that aims to help in increasing
Jordanian capacities in several managerial and
technical areas.
§
Signed an agreement with Public Security
Department (PSD) for the utilization of the NBN
Program infrastructure in Amman to serve
military entities.
§
Signed an agreement with Batelco Jordan for the
utilization of the NBN Program infrastructure in
Amman.
Created the NBN Operations Center which was
located in the Ministry of Information and
Communication Technology.
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