Livestock tax gives cellcos something to cow about

Jordanian wireless network operators have criticised a move by the government to impose a new tax on calls, to be used to subsidise the livestock industry, saying it is ‘unfair’ to the telecoms industry. According to the Jordan Times, under the 2008 livestock protection fund draft law a JOD0.01 (USD0.014) per minute tax on fixed or wireless calls phone call would be used to support the livestock sector, by giving farmers access to low-interest loans. Zain Jordan general manager Ahmad Al Shatti was quoted as saying taxes currently constitute 20.5% of subscribers’ bills, in addition to an annual JOD1 per line university tax. ‘There are already many taxes in the sector and adding a new one will make investors think twice about expanding their investments in Jordan or even bidding for the 3G licence to be floated by the government,’ he said.