Page 39 - SAMENA Trends - February 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Telecom Egypt and GRID Telecom Sign a Strategic
MoU to Connect Egypt and Greece

Telecom Egypt, Egypt’s first integrated
telecom operator and one of the largest
subsea cables operators in the region,
and GRID Telecom, subsidiary of the
Independent Power Transmission Operator
(IPTO) in Greece, signed a strategic
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to
connect Greece and Egypt using submarine
cable infrastructure. The MoU was signed
at IPTO’s headquarters in Athens by the
Managing Director and CEO of Telecom
Egypt, Mr. Adel Hamed and the Chairman
and CEO of IPTO, Mr. Manos Manousakis.
Present during the signing ceremony were
Egypt’s Minister of Telecommunications
and Information Technology, Dr. Amr players over the years. Additionally, stated: “Today, we welcome the signing
Talaat, Greece’s Minister of Digital Telecom Egypt is working on multiple of the Memorandum of Understanding
Governance, Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, and layers of its infrastructure diversity, such pertaining to interconnecting Greece and
the Chargé d' Affaires of the Embassy of as establishing new submarine landing Egypt via submarine cable infrastructure.
Egypt in Athens, Mr. Mohamed Elghazawy. stations and crossing routes as well as Exploring the possibility to deep dive into
The strategic agreement sets the ground investing in new systems and solutions underwater connectivity, we trust this
for the exploration of different connectivity that will cater for the rising global demand infrastructure that provides high quality,
options between Greece and Egypt, as for international capacities. The Minister high volume of content and fast services.
well as the optimal utilization of Telecom of Communications and Information This is an important agreement between
Egypt’s and Grid Telecom’s state-of-the- Technology of Egypt, Dr. Amr Talaat, Grid Telecom and Telecom Egypt as the
art networks and international reach, stated: “Egypt and Greece have deep cables' route enables connecting points
through their existing and future optical rooted economic, political, and cultural of presence in our countries and across
interconnectivity to neighboring countries. ties, which have united the two countries continents, and secures the exponential
Bilateral talks between the Ministers and for over thousands of years given that they growth of our respective digital markets.”
high-ranking government officials of the are among the oldest civilizations known The Chairman and CEO of IPTO, Mr. Manos
two countries also took place during the to humanity. The MoU signed between Manousakis, stated: “IPTO, building upon
signing ceremony, covering a number the two companies will contribute to its ongoing collaboration with Egypt in the
of topics, namely Artificial Intelligence, strengthening bilateral cooperation in the Energy sector, enters into a constructive
Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. With field of communications and information partnership with Telecom Egypt that lays
a domestic fiber optic network currently technology by maximizing data traffic strong foundations for new international
exceeding 4,000 km, Grid Telecom, that crosses the Mediterranean Sea, connectivity projects in the growing field
IPTO’s vehicle in the telecommunications through Egypt and Greece. This will lead to of telecommunications between the two
market, is already offering diverse fiber future discussions about accelerating the countries. IPTO’s agreement to work
connectivity between the island of Crete construction of submarine cables between with one of the world’s leading subsea
and the Greek mainland, in addition to its the two countries, which will facilitate the cables operators further advances our
network infrastructure in Italy, the Balkans, massive flow of data worldwide, which international growth strategy and can
and Central Europe, leveraging its position continues to increase exponentially. actively contribute to Greece’s emergence
as a major, carrier-neutral hub in Europe. Egypt's distinct geographic location makes as a key telecommunication hub in the
Telecom Egypt’s international network it a regional data hub, as it transfers traffic broader Mediterranean region.” The
extends to over 140 landing points in more to Asia, Africa, and Europe through more Managing Director and CEO of Telecom
than 60 countries across the globe. The than 13 submarine cables, which are Egypt, Mr. Adel Hamed, commented: “We
company has invested extensively in its scheduled to increase to 18 cables within are pleased to work with Grid Telecom, as
submarine cable infrastructure, which is three years. There are also plans in place this collaboration reinforces our strategy
the shortest and most reliable crossing to complete HARP, the submarine system to further expand our international
path between Africa, Asia and Europe, that will be circling the African continent by infrastructure and increase the geo-
making Telecom Egypt the partner-of- 2023.” The Minister of Digital Governance diversity of our assets. With Grid Telecom
choice for many international telecom of Greece, Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, as an important strategic partner, we will

39 FEBRUARY 2022