Page 114 - SAMENA Trends - October-December 2024

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

expected to further solidify the country’s position as a global services will be launched in the Egyptian market within a month,”
leader in providing outsourced contact center services. (November 21, and “Wi-Fi calling services will be available before the end of 2024,”
2024) www.meatechwatch.com indicating ongoing advancements in Egypt’s telecommunications
landscape. (October 10, 2024) www.meatechwatch.com
The CEO of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA)
Mohamed Shamroukh, announced the agency’s initial approval Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
to increase the prices of telecommunications services in Egypt. (MCIT), represented by the National Telecommunications
This came during the Fifth-Generation session on the sidelines Regulatory Authority (NTRA), signed agreements for the second
of Cairo ICT 2024 exhibition. He explained that this expected phase of 5G licenses with three mobile operators: Vodafone Egypt,
increase comes as a result of the high operating costs facing Orange Egypt, and e& Egypt. The agreements were signed by
mobile companies, adding that NTRA sees the right of companies NTRA Executive President Mohamed Shamroukh, Orange Egypt
to review service prices. The CEO of the NTRA said that the agency CEO Yasser Shaker, Vodafone Egypt CEO Mohamed Abdallah,
is currently studying the appropriate timing to implement the new and e& Egypt CEO Hazem Metwali. In January, Telecom Egypt
increase in telecommunications service prices, in order to best secured the first phase of the 5G license, without frequencies
take into account consumer interests. The post NTRA approves or any special privileges, for a value of $150 million. Minister of
increase to telecommunications service prices in Egypt appeared Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat said
first on Egypt Independent. (November 20, 2024) www.ozarab.media during a press conference that the agreements aim to enhance 5G
services, bring about a qualitative shift in improving the quality of
The head of Egypt’s National Telecommunications Regulatory communication services, and expand the network’s capacity for
Authority (NTRA), Mohamed Shamroukh, has announced plans to optimal performance. “The agreements are a crucial step in our
increase telecom service prices in response to rising operational efforts to deliver advanced technological services to our citizens,”
costs driven by higher energy prices. Shamroukh emphasized that Talaat said. He confirmed Egypt’s capability to provide the latest 5G
this adjustment is necessary to ensure that services meet the technologies, contributing to service improvement and enhancing
needs and expectations of citizens. For several months, mobile mobile network capacity. Talaat explained that these agreements
operators in Egypt have urged the NTRA to approve price hikes are part of the state’s strategy to provide citizens with advanced
to address the financial pressures stemming from escalating technological services, emphasizing the support of vital sectors
fuel costs and the devaluation of the Egyptian pound. Operators like smart cities, logistics, healthcare, and agriculture, which
have expressed concerns that without approval for increased heavily rely on Internet of Things (IoT) technologies supported by
prices, their ability to invest in 5G technology may be adversely 5G. “The 5G network is key to the development of these sectors,”
affected. Despite these challenges, Egypt’s mobile operators have Talaat said. The minister noted that the agreement emphasizes
successfully obtained licenses for 5G services, which promise to the importance of partnership among the four companies
enhance internet connectivity, speed, and capacity. According to operating in Egypt’s telecommunications sector to ensure
Egypt’s Minister of Communications, Amr Talaat, the sale of these continuous service development, benefitting Egyptian citizens
licenses generated approximately USD 675 million (EGP 32.7 and strengthening the role of the information technology sector
billion) for the country on October 7. The licenses were acquired in economic development. “We believe this partnership will be
by Egypt’s four major mobile operators, including Vodafone Egypt, crucial to the success of the 5G rollout in Egypt,” Talaat said. The
which is owned by South Africa’s Vodacom Group, and Orange 5G network, or fifth generation of wireless mobile networks, builds
Egypt, a subsidiary of France’s Orange Group. Additionally, on the four preceding generations, which focused on improving
Etisalat Egypt, part of the UAE-based &e Group, and state-owned mobile phone data. The 5G network seeks to expand upon this
Telecom Egypt, which holds a 45 percent stake in Vodafone Egypt, trend and broaden its use for mobile broadband access.
also secured licenses. Shamroukh further announced that “eSIM (October 8, 2024) www.zawya.com

Iraq

The Ministry of Communications announced the signing of an and economic development, emphasizing “the company's global
agreement with global telecom giant Vodafone to launch a fully expertise and dedication to training young Iraqi talents.” The
government-owned 5G network. Vodafone is one of the leading agreement covers preparations for the telecom operator's launch,
telecommunications companies in Europe and Africa, serving over network design, commercial proposals, business growth plans,
330 million customers across 15 countries. “The project seeks to and a memorandum for ongoing discussions on services and the
improve telecom services, lower costs, increase state revenues, optimal management model. On 26 November, Vodafone secured
and bring modern technology…It will create jobs for Iraqi youth the license to operate Iraq's national telecommunications
and enhance their network management skills,” Communications network, after the Council of Ministers approved its selection
Minister Hayam Al-Yasiri stated. Peter Dvorak, Vodafone's CEO as the operator for the national mobile license project using 5G
for Partner Markets, said the initiative would boost Iraq's social technology. (December 4, 2024) www.shafaq.com

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