Jordan’s Mobile Fee Proposal: A Bid for Revenue, Regulation, and Security

Coinciding with Starlink’s launch in the Kingdom, the proposed policy points to a potential bolstering of the surveillance state.

Image: The Jordan Times

The head of Jordan’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) has announced a new policy: unregistered mobile devices will be subject to fees to continue operating. It is said to aim at curbing illegal imports and ensuring compliance with national regulations. However, according to JO24, the TRC confirmed via Public Security radio that the policy has not yet been enacted and remains a proposal currently under review. Economically, Jordan appears to be taking a page from Egypt’s creative revenue-generation playbook. From a security perspective, the proposed policy -coinciding with the Kingdom’s Starlink launch-points to a potential bolstering of the surveillance state, which is proving increasingly crucial amid ongoing crackdown on militant sleeper cells.

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The proposed policy is framed by the TRC as a response to customs revenue losses due to mobile device smuggling, a rationale that mirrors Egypt’s policy implemented earlier this year. Currently under review by the TRC and the Customs Department, it is anticipated to require extensive deliberation due to the complexities of implementation.