Jordan has formalized a major step in regional digital cooperation by agreeing to provide internet capacity to Syria, underlining its role as a hub for telecommunications and digital transformation in the Middle East.
Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Sami Smirat said the move reflects Jordan’s commitment to regional integration and support for Syria’s digital recovery. The agreement follows the Syrian minister of communications’ recent visit to Amman and has been formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Damascus between Aqaba Digital City Group, via its telecom arm NaiTel, and the Syrian Telecommunications Company.
The MoU establishes a commercial framework for designing, building, and operating the digital infrastructure Syria needs, including internet services, international bandwidth, and an integrated fibre network linking Damascus to the Jordanian border. This direct connection will tie into Aqaba Digital City’s neutral platforms — including data centres, the Aqaba Internet Exchange (AqabaIX), landing stations, cloud platforms, and cybersecurity solutions.
Smirat stressed that the agreement lays the foundation for advanced regional connectivity, boosting data flows across the Middle East and beyond.
Eid Swais, Chairman of the ICT Association of Jordan (int@j), described the deal as a strategic step reinforcing Jordan’s status as a regional telecom and IT hub. He emphasized Jordan’s geographic advantage as a “digital bridge linking continents” and noted that decades of investment in fibre infrastructure have positioned the Kingdom as a reliable partner for international digital projects.
Swais added that the agreement not only strengthens Jordan’s digital economy but also diversifies income streams and supports sustainable growth, particularly amid accelerating global digitisation. He highlighted the wider benefits of knowledge exchange, capacity building, and deeper Arab economic cooperation as essential for navigating regional challenges.
