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 14^th, 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 25^th, 2003 the Government of Jordan has approved the implementation of the School Broadband Network. MoICT was mandated to implement and operate the network

3.    Government Entities Network, to connect government entities and to operate the network.

In the Year 2007 it was decided to utilize the efforts and use the Infrastructure of the broadband network to connect government entities and support the build out of the secure government network.

4.    Medical Entities Network, connecting the medical entities in Jordan.

In the Year 2008 it was decided to utilize the efforts and use the Infrastructure of the broadband network to connect medical entities.

NBN Program Objectives:

§  Contributing to development of the Jordanian Educational System:

-       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.

-       Support the build out of the secure government network by providing a broadband connectivity that will enable better services to citizens and government.

§  Contributing to development of the Jordanian economic system:

-       Stimulate economic development by subcontracting the build up of the network to local and foreign contractors.  

§  Contributing to development of the Jordanian health system:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

-       Support the build out of a network linking the health entities in Jordan  to the broadband network to increase the efficiency of the medical system and to prevent wasting the medical materials which will enhance the efficiency of the public sector

NBN Program Key Stakeholders:

§  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

§  NEU Venture Groups LTD.

§  Vtel holding LTD -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) in addition Tafeela University is now being connected

§  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 and fiber cabling for 56 schools in Aqaba under the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), equipment installation has been completed.

§   Started the work to execute the civil work and fiber cabling to connect 372 school within the first stage of the north area to the schools broadband network the scope has been modified to include 27 government entities , 67 medical entities and 15 knowledge stations.

§  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, the agreement has been renewed in 2008.

§  Signed an agreement with Public Security Department (PSD) for the utilization of the NBN Program infrastructure and network maintenance 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.

§  Signed an agreement with the Royal Jordanian Air Force to participate in the completion of the network

§  Started the civil work for the overlay network between Amman and Aqaba cities under the supervision of the Royal Jordanian Air Force

§  Completed the connection of 4 schools in Al-Jafer area (including civil works, fiber cabling, and equipment installation.

§  Completed the connection of 4 schools in Al-Azraq area using wireless equipment to to the schools network

§  Signed agreement with Vtel holdings for renting fiber optic cabling plastic pipe along Amman – Aqaba.

§  Signed agreement with NEU venture groups for renting fiber optic cabling plastic pipe along Amman - Aqaba.

Secured Government Network:

 Finished the connection of 42 government entities in Amman city to support the e-Government Program, the scope has been modified to include additional government entities.

Medical Entities Network

§  Completed the connection of 4 medical entities in Amman.

§  Started work to connect 67 medical entities in the north area.

Expected Accomplishments in the year 2009:

§  Finish the connection of Tafeela University on the university broadband network

§  Finish the connection of the overlay network between Amman and Aqaba cities on the schools broadband network

§  Finish the connection of the schools, government entities and medical entities in the first stage of the north area connection project.

§  Continue the connection of the government entities to implement the secured government network.

§  Issue a tender to connect the schools, government entities and medical entities in south area.

§  Upgrade the Network Operation Center (NOC) of the national broadband network in ministry of information and communication technology.

§  Finish network connection for the borders and residency project under e-Government program.