Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), represented by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), has awarded 5G licenses to Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, and e& Egypt.
This significant move paves the way for the nationwide rollout of 5G services. The licenses for these three telecommunications companies are valued at a combined US$675 million, adding to Telecom Egypt, which secured its 5G license in January 2024 for US$150 million.
During the signing ceremony for the licenses, MCIT Minister Amr Talaat emphasized the transformative potential of 5G technology. He noted that 5G will not only enhance mobile network capacity and service quality but also drive the development of Internet of Things (IoT)-based solutions for smart cities and vital sectors, including logistics, healthcare, and agriculture.
Talaat underscored the importance of collaboration among Egypt’s telecommunications companies, stating, “We believe this partnership will be crucial to the success of the 5G rollout in Egypt. The agreements are a crucial step in our efforts to deliver advanced technological services to our citizens.” He expressed optimism about the competitive environment fostering the IT sector’s role in driving economic development.
The NTRA had been planning to issue 5G licenses for nearly a year, initially targeting a launch by the end of 2023. However, telecom operators requested a delay to secure adequate funding. Despite these delays, operators have been actively preparing their networks for 5G. Telecom Egypt, for instance, successfully trialed 5G technology with Ericsson in the New Administrative Capital, utilizing the 2.6GHz spectrum, and has partnered with Huawei for its 5G network deployment.
In July 2024, Telecom Egypt collaborated with Nokia to launch 5G services in major cities using Nokia’s AirScale 5G technology. Additionally, Ericsson has formed technology partnerships with Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, and e& Egypt throughout the year.
According to statistics from market research firm Omdia, as of the end of the second quarter of 2024, Etisalat (e& Egypt) had approximately 30.4 million mobile users. Vodafone Egypt, now majority-owned by South Africa’s Vodacom, remains the country’s largest mobile operator with around 49 million subscribers. Orange Egypt follows closely with about 30.2 million subscribers, while Telecom Egypt, the smallest operator, had about 13.1 million mobile subscribers during the same period.