Bassem Al-Sarhan, Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC), announced on Sunday that individuals bringing mobile devices into Jordan from abroad must now register them to prevent local telecom providers from disabling their services. The move aims to curb smuggling and protect customs revenues.
Jordanians will be allowed to bring in a limited number of mobile devices, Al-Sarhan explained during an interview with Al-Mamlaka. He noted that the country faces significant customs revenue losses due to smuggled devices and emphasized the importance of a digital system to better manage this issue.
Al-Sarhan clarified that devices imported through official channels, subject to tax, and sold by licensed companies, are not affected by the new regulation. The TRC has addressed the issue through three lists: “white,” “black,” and “gray.”
The “white list” includes devices that have entered the customs department and are activated upon their exit. The “black list” consists of unreported devices that are blocked by telecom providers, while the “gray list” is reserved for devices temporarily brought into the country, such as those belonging to guests, diplomats, and temporary visitors.
