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.
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.
Another Fee
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.
While the policy aims to curb illegal imports and bolster customs revenue, it aligns with a broader series of tax measures designed to address Jordan’s $48.3 billion national debt, as reported in November 2024, much of which is owed to international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. These institutions recently approved a $130 million disbursement and $1.1 billion in financing, respectively, to support Jordan’s fiscal consolidation efforts. However, the policy was met with significant criticism on social media platforms, where Jordanians have expressed concerns about its potential to exacerbate financial burdens on citizens already grappling with economic challenges, including a 21.4% unemployment rate in 2024 and a 25% unemployment rate among recent university graduates.
Security Implications
According to DataReportal, by early 2025, Jordan boasted a mobile penetration rate of 82.3% and internet penetration rate of 92.5%, the latter significantly higher than other Arab countries in its economic bracket. This highlights the centrality of telecommunications in daily life and the high connectivity makes regulating mobile devices both feasible and strategically significant.
Just days before the policy announcement, the TRC held a press conference to announce the Kingdom’s launch of its first satellite internet service in partnership with Starlink. While Starlink could expand internet access, its infrastructure may also enable greater government oversight of online activity. The proposed mobile fee policy, by requiring device registration, could similarly facilitate tracking of users, particularly if tied to national ID systems—a common practice in Jordan’s existing surveillance framework, according to Privacy International.
Together, these telecommunications developments are likely to further strengthen Jordan’s security apparatus amid increased instability due to the war in Gaza - most notably in light of the recently foiled plot linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, which included the discovery of a weapons facility. Since 7 October 2023, the Jordanian government has cracked down on pro-Palestine protesters, with estimates suggesting over 1,500 arrests. As regional tensions continue to escalate, precautionary measures, such as the proposed mobile fee, are expected to increase, both for security purposes and in an effort to address economic pressures.