Telecoms & IT
From The Report: Egypt 2016
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The fundamental demand drivers of Egypt’s telecoms sector are very appealing, by any measure. The country has a large and growing population, increasing purchasing power and high media consumption. However, operators still have had to navigate some tricky challenges. Price competition in the voice market has eased after aggressive discounting in recent years, but data usage and value-added services, which are seen as key revenue earners, still remain modest. Unlike many other sectors of the Egyptian economy, the ICT industry has remained remarkably resilient in the face of the political uncertainty and macro-economic instability wrought by the 2011 revolution. Beyond the basics of national internet infrastructure, Egypt offers a number of benefits for potential ICT investors, not least among which is its proximity to the lucrative European markets.

This chapter contains interviews with Yasser El Kady, Minister of Communications and Information Technology; Hazem Metwally, CEO, Etisalat Misr; Yves Gauthier, CEO, Mobinil; Walid Gad, Chairman, Telecom Egypt; and Ahmed Essam, CEO, Vodafone Egypt.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Counting down: The government is rapidly pushing the sector towards 4G
OBG
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The fundamental demand drivers of Egypt’s telecoms sector are very appealing, by any measure. The country has a large and growing population, increasing purchasing power and high media consumption. However, operators still have had to navigate some tricky challenges. Price competition in the voice market has eased after aggressive discounting in recent years, but data usage and value-added services, which are seen as key revenue earners, still remain modest. Change is afoot and operators are preparing…

Interview

Upgrade in progress: OBG talks to Yasser El Kady, Minister of Communications and Information Technology
OBG
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Interview:Yasser El Kady How will licences be awarded in 2016? YASSER EL KADY: Intensive negotiations and talks are currently taking place with respect to progressive telecom policies and to understand better the objectives of the different operators. The first thing to stress is that all stakeholders in the industry are now working together to move it forward for the benefit of the Egyptian citizen. Obviously there have been some disagreements between some of the players on certain…

Analysis

Wholesale dispute: The government and operators sort out their differences, with key effects on the marketplace
OBG
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The telecommunications sector in Egypt has seen a number of regulatory reforms in recent years, all of which have impacted investment and strategic development. ADSL wholesale leasing rates, access to the new fibre network and the potential for a unified licence have, at times, been the cause of friction between the various stakeholders. The mobile GSM operators, the incumbent fixed-line operator and the regulator often have competing interests and must work together to resolve them. Interconnection One…

Overview

Keeping in touch: OBG talks to Hazem Metwally, CEO, Etisalat Misr; Yves Gauthier, CEO, Mobinil; Walid Gad, Chairman, Telecom Egypt; and Ahmed Essam, CEO, Vodafone Egypt
OBG
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Interview:Hazem Metwally,Yves Gauthier,Walid Gad,Ahmed Essam To what extent is there enough demand in the market to absorb an additional mobile operator, especially with respect to data? HAZEM METWALLY: The telecoms industry is about long-term investment. Etisalat Misr has entered the market with that in mind and has thus invested more than LE30bn ($4.09bn) to date. Unlike the other operators, Etisalat Misr has yet to reap the returns of that investment. Egypt is currently…

Overview

Turning plans into reality: The nation’s talent and technical capacity have made it a key outsourcing partner
OBG
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Unlike many other sectors of the Egyptian economy, the ICT industry has remained remarkably resilient in the face of the political uncertainty and macro-economic instability wrought by the 2011 revolution. Beyond the basics of national internet infrastructure, Egypt offers a number of benefits for potential ICT investors, not least among which is its proximity to the lucrative European markets. Furthermore, Egypt’s strategic location means that it has become a significant transit hub for submarine…

Analysis

Picking up speed: Technological entrepreneurship takes hold with the development of the start-up scene
OBG
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Although challenges still exist with regard to Egypt’s internet experience, there is much optimism for the future. Nothing epitomises this more than the nascent start-up culture. Online commerce and advertising revenues are growing and more young Egyptians are being drawn to technological entrepreneurship. Since the 2011 revolution, Egypt’s burgeoning start-up culture has received extensive coverage in the foreign press, although often times in a tone of surprise. But in many ways, the growth…