Telecom Egypt and Vodafone Egypt have signed strategic partnership agreements worth EGP 30 billion to upgrade Vodafone Egypt’s infrastructure, paving the way for the expansion of integrated telecom services and the launch of 5G services. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) announced the agreements on Monday.
The partnership is aimed at improving Vodafone Egypt’s network capabilities, enabling the company to provide high-quality services and prepare for the launch of 5G services in the country. The agreements were signed by Mohamed Abdِallah, CEO and Managing Director of Vodafone Egypt, and Mohamed Nasr, CEO of Telecom Egypt, with Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat and Mohamed Shamroukh, CEO of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), in attendance.
These agreements are a key part of Telecom Egypt’s strategy to expand the use of fibre-optic networks across Egypt, which are essential for delivering 5G services. The collaboration between the two companies will help provide enhanced services for Egyptian citizens, especially with the deployment of advanced fibre-optic technology that transmits information via light signals instead of electrical signals.
Minister Talaat highlighted that these agreements are a significant milestone in Egypt’s telecommunications and ICT sector, particularly following the recent granting of 5G licenses to telecom operators. The ICT sector’s contribution to Egypt’s GDP reached five percent in FY2022/2023, with a target of eight percent by 2030.
The Minister also noted that 5G services depend on a strong fibre-optic network to connect the towers necessary for the new technology. He emphasized the ongoing efforts to enhance mobile network infrastructure, including $675 million in investments, alongside the issuance of 5G licenses to mobile operators earlier this year.
In related developments, the NTRA has signed agreements with Egypt’s top three telecom companies — Orange Egypt, Vodafone Egypt, and e& Egypt — to grant them 5G mobile services licenses. Additionally, in January, Telecom Egypt signed a $150 million agreement with the NTRA for a 15-year license to operate 5G services.
The Telecom Egypt-Vodafone Egypt partnership also includes a messaging services agreement, which will extend through to 2031. This agreement covers the expansion of Vodafone Egypt’s network and includes a fibre-optic connection arrangement for its mobile sites over the next four years.