TRC Jordan and RIPE NCC Sign MoU at WSIS+20
Geneva, 9 July 2025 – At the WSIS+20 High-Level Forum, which took place from 7 to 11 July in Geneva, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) of Jordan and the RIPE NCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This formalised a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing Internet infrastructure, capacity building, and digital resilience in Jordan and throughout the region.
As part of their shared commitment to strengthening Internet infrastructure development across the Arab region, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) of Jordan and the RIPE NCC have deepened their collaboration through active participation in the WSIS+20 process. Their engagement in the different high-level sessions of the Forum reflects a strategic effort to promote multistakeholder cooperation, regional capacity building, and secure, inclusive digital growth aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the WSIS Action Lines.
The MoU was signed on Tuesday, 8 July, during the joint session titled “Governments and Technical Community: A Successful Model of Multistakeholder Collaboration for Achieving the SDGs.” This high-level session showcased how collaborative policymaking and technical coordination can advance national development goals and drive meaningful digital transformation.
H.E. Eng. Bassam Al-Sarhan, Chairman and CEO of TRC Jordan, delivered his remarks, stating: “This agreement reflects Jordan’s leadership and commitment to regional cooperation and secure digital development. Partnering with the RIPE NCC supports our efforts to strengthen our Internet infrastructure, promote IPv6 deployment, and build the technical skills needed for our digital economy.”
Hans Petter Holen, Managing Director of the RIPE NCC, said: “The MoU with TRC Jordan is not only a bilateral achievement, it is a leading example of how governments and the technical community can join forces to build a sustainable and secure digital future.”
The session featured a distinguished line-up of high-level speakers who reinforced the value of multistakeholder collaboration:
Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), emphasised: “This signing reflects the spirit of WSIS as a platform for building partnerships. It is essential to strengthen collaboration through these sorts of efforts.”
H.E. Dr. Khaled Wali, Minister Delegate, Communication and Information Technology Development Department, League of Arab States, highlighted: “This cooperation reflects the Arab region’s commitment to capacity development and trust-based digital transformation through strategic partnerships.”
Ms. Fabrizia Benini, Head of Unit, Next Generation Internet, European Commission, remarked: “We stand united to renew our commitment to collaboration with the technical community, an approach that has delivered tangible results in policy implementation.”
Ms. Sally Wentworth, CEO of the Internet Society (ISOC), stated, “Technical collaboration with governments is essential to achieving the goals of WSIS. Only then can we build a truly inclusive information society.”
Dr. Ahmed Saeed, Head of Public Policy and Affairs, National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Egypt, shared: “The work of the RIPE NCC in the Arab region has helped to promote secure and stable Internet development. We will work hand in hand with all stakeholders to ensure no one is left behind in the shared digital future.”
Ms. Anne-Rachel Inné, Director-General, National Information Society Agency, Niger, affirmed: “Success demands unity. Shared commitment is the only way to drive innovation for good. With more agreements like this, we can leverage our partnerships and turn obstacles into opportunities.”
Mr. Zdravko Jukić, International Cooperation Coordinator at HAKOM (Croatia) and Cybersecurity and Resilience Co-Chair, BEREC, added: “It is important to address technical needs at multistakeholder fora like this. We can best engage where there is shared interest.”
The session and signing ceremony drew high-level participation from regional and global stakeholders, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the League of Arab States, the European Commission, Internet Society (ISOC), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), and delegations representing various governments.
Notably, Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), and Craig Stanley-Adamson, Head of Internet Governance at the UK
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and senior representatives, including from the IAB and IETF, joined the dialogue and contributed to the session’s discussions.
You can also view this press release in Arabic.
ENDS
About the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC):
TRC Jordan is the independent authority regulating telecommunications, IT, and postal services in Jordan. Established in 1995, TRC promotes high-quality services, fair competition, and innovation to enhance Jordan’s position as a regional ICT hub. https://trc.gov.jo/
About the RIPE NCC:
The RIPE NCC is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation that supports the Internet's infrastructure through technical coordination in Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. The most prominent activity of the RIPE NCC is to act as the regional Internet registry (RIR), providing global Internet resources and related services (IPv4, IPv6 and AS Numbers) to members in the RIPE NCC service region. The RIPE NCC operates from its main office in Amsterdam and its regional office in Dubai. www.ripe.net