Orange Jordan announces its participation in the educational initiative Laptop for each university student

As part of its continuous strive to participate in developing the local community and provide all the possible support to education sector and spreading the internet culture, Orange Internet announced its participation in the educational initiative “Laptop for each university student” which was launched by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MoICT).

On this occasion, Orange Internet held a ceremony headed by Mrs. Nayla Khawam, CEO of Jordan Telecom Group Orange, and attended by His Excellency Mr. Basem Al Rousan, Minister of MoICT. The event was also attended by representatives from participating universities within the initiative and a number of the Group’s CEOs and Directors.

During the ceremony, Mrs. Khawam highlighted that Orange’s participation in the Ministry’s initiative comes in line with the Group’s strategy in encouraging internet usage and spreading this culture which indicates the progress to which the developed countries have reached. She also added that the Group is committed to achieving His Majesty King Abdullah II vision in increasing the internet penetration. She pointed out that the number of current internet subscribers have exceeded 100.000 in two year period.

Expressing his gratitude for Orange’s step, HE Eng. Basem Al Rousan, Minister of MoICT, underlined that providing reduced internet subscriptions to the students within “Laptop for each university student” initiative will enhance the success of this local initiative through providing a comprehensive package that will directly contribute in spreading the computer and internet culture. Al Rousan also pointed out that Orange’s initiative forms a role model for the effective partnership among public, private and education sectors to achieve the strategic goals of the sector, especially increasing the number of internet users to 50% by the year 2012. This will have a direct impact on accelerating the social and economic growth according to His Majesty King Abdullah’s visions.

The initiative will give students the opportunity to obtain laptop with facilitated installments that range between JD9.50 and JD14.50 per month. In addition, students within this initiative will be able to enjoy Orange Internet services within reduced prices starting from JD9.90 per month for speeds up to 1M with downloading capacity of 10 G.

For her part, Mrs. Wassila Zitoune, CEO of Orange Fixed and Internet, said: “We are aware of the significant role internet service plays in education, whether be in research, studying or expanding the knowledge horizons, therefore, we decided to take part in this educational initiative launched by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology.”

Zitoune added that the initiative will provide more than ten thousand students with the chance to obtain a laptop. Furthermore, each student will receive a free Livebox modem, two Wi-Fi hours per month, and a free university student mobile line when choosing Orange as the internet service provider.

In the conference, Mrs. Shweikeh talked about the university mobile line which targets youth enabling them to make free calls to any Orange mobile or fixed line chosen as their super number. She highlighted that Orange adopts excellence strategy to launch innovative telecom solutions that serve all community segments.

“Orange is committed to providing the best and most competitive prices in the market covering all telecom services from fixed, mobile to internet. And today we are glad to grant the students the opportunity to obtain the most used telecom service in a much facilitated method,” Khawam concluded.

It is noteworthy that “Laptop for every university student” initiative was launched by MoICT in 2007, aiming at increasing the usage of computers especially within university students. This step stems from the Ministry’s belief in this segment and its role in contributing to the technological, social and economical development.

22/10/2009