Jordan IT profile Jordan Telecom (JT), aspiring to become the Middle East's dominant IT hub, has set up a data centre projected as a regional alternative to remote hosting in the US.

"The service is Jordan's first professional hosting solution, and offers domestic and neighbouring clients the latest technology to enhance their main servers or disaster-recovery sites," says Pierre Mattei, JT's chief executive officer.

"Prime targets are Jordanian Internet service providers, banks and government departments as well as potential cross-border clients seeking state-of-the-art hosting facilities."

Jordan Telecom's data network drives the centre, providing high-speed capacity through JT's flag and satellite links. The centre also guarantees secure connectivity to the Internet at the highest possible speed, said JT, which has a strategic partnership with France Telecom. Listing the benefits, JT said they included a totally secure server environment, self-monitoring accessibility for equipment and content, on-line content management through clients' own PCs, and round-the-clock operational and administrative backup. JT is the sole operator and provider of telecom services in Jordan. In January 2000, Jetco Investment Group became a strategic partner by paying a 40 per cent stake in the company. Jetco is a holding company co-owned by France Telecom (88 per cent) and the Arab Bank Ltd (12 per cent). The agreement signed with the government at the time of the sale grants Jordan Telecom a monopoly for fixed-line and international services until the end of 2004.