International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, and Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE) signed an agreement to attract private sector participation to expand and operate high-speed internet network to help boost connectivity, improve digital services, and create jobs.

IFC will work together with the ministry to launch a competitive and transparent tender for a public-private partnership (PPP) to operate, commercialize, finance, and expand Jordan’s national broadband network (NBN), a fiber-optic open access data network currently under development. As the lead transaction adviser, IFC will help structure the PPP to attract potential international and regional private investment in this key project.

The project marks the first PPP in Jordan’s growing information and communication technology (ICT) sector. Once completed, the NBN is expected to boost broadband penetration and affordability for households, and businesses, provide sufficient infrastructure for 5G operators, and provide high-speed internet connectivity to about 5,000 public sites, including schools, healthcare centers, and government offices.

Widespread and affordable high-speed internet is critical for Jordan, which has emerged as a digital hub for the Middle East— even more so now that people are spending more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, high-speed internet connectivity will be critical to help manage the increased demand for distance learning and e-services.