Jordan Telecom Group CEO, Mr. Mickael Ghossein, participates in one of the WEF sessions

Jordan Telecom Group (JTG) CEO, Mr. Mickael Ghossein, participated in one of the WEF sessions held at the Dead Sea, in the period from 18 to 20 May 2007.  The CEO’s participation in the session came to support participant ideas of the need for ICT and Media operators, and entertainment companies, to change their operation systems and enter new markets.

The Digital Ecosystem comprises of the merge of technologies, processes, business models which once it merges it will result in a content that will provide, store and offer services on fully integrated digital networks, joint platforms, appropriate computer programs and equipment.

Mr. Ghossein said in the session that the importance of the Digital Ecosystem concept stems from the role the ICT sector will play in the future, in light of the technological revolution and its impact on the national economy.

He added that readying for this revolution will prevent facing negative impacts, and will support economic elements that would qualify us to move to the next age without problems.  On the contrary he said, our preparedness will enable the telecom industry to reap the fruits of this system, whereby the market will be ready for the demand on services.

Mr. Ghossein spoke further on operators’ readiness for such a system.  He said, “Readiness is represented in responding to the market demands, which would define what should be offered by companies in terms of services, instead of the traditional method to leave the market take what the industry offers.”

He explained that JTG is best suited to implement the Digital Ecosystem in Jordan, due to the complete harmony of this system, and the Group’s integration decision in providing services.  Once integration is complete in terms of products to be launched in the market, JTG will be the pioneer in this regard.

Mr. Ghossein asserted that the strategic partnership between the JTG and France Telecom will be greatly beneficial with the market’s adoption of the Digital Ecosystem, due to the R&D program that the French company vividly operates and spends on in the region of two billion Euros per year. All this will come together to qualify JTG more than ever to provide for the services that are not available in the market.

He gave an example in a service that will soon be offered and which will be based on the integration principle between different ICT and media sectors.  The service is called Unique, which would enable a subscriber to carry one set for fixed, mobile, Internet services.  Such a set can even operate the TV on a paid satellite service, thus changing from a mobile phone to a PC, and when entering the house, becoming a fixed telephone set.

Participants discussed scenarios and challenges facing a Digital Ecosystem in terms of economic and social challenges, especially when the region is facing specific issues such as content, language and the society.

Participants said that integration between different sectors that lead to the Digital Ecosystem has become a pressing need for companies that may wish to remain in the competition circle and continue to grow in the digital sector.

They stressed that the main pressing need in the region is that of ‘education’ under a young middle eastern society, half the members of which are below twenty years of age.

23/5/2007