Telecoms & IT
From The Report: Egypt 2017
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As of the end of 2016, Egypt’s telecommunications sector was strongly positioned for future growth. With more than 95m mobile subscribers, the nation’s three mobile telecoms providers – namely Vodafone Egypt, Etisalat Misr and Orange Egypt – are investing heavily in network expansion, quality of service improvements and new technologies. This has accelerated in recent months, following the National Telecom Regulatory Authority issuance of four 4G LTE licences in mid-2016. While the licensing of 4G LTE service providers in Egypt bodes well for consumers, the operators face a tightening competitive environment. Furthermore, all three mobile operators report relatively narrow margins and various infrastructure-related challenges, while mobile data – and smartphone usage – is still seeing slow uptake. The steady advance of ICT over the past decade has left Egypt’s tech industry in a strong position, despite the nation’s ongoing economic and political challenges. The country has seen a significant rise in internet penetration in recent years, as a result of growing usage among middle-class Egyptians and the business community, rapidly expanding international bandwidth, as well as the accompanying lower tariffs. While Egypt’s strong fundamentals, state-led support programmes and large tech-savvy workforce bode well for the future of the domestic ICT industry, numerous challenges lie ahead.

This chapter contains an interview with Ashraf Sabry, CEO, Fawry.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Expanding opportunity: Investment in telecoms network infrastructure is boosting revenues
OBG
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As of the end of 2016, Egypt’s telecommunications sector was strongly positioned for future growth. With more than 95m mobile subscribers, many of whom are young, the nation’s three mobile telecoms providers – namely Vodafone Egypt, Etisalat Misr and Orange Egypt – are investing heavily in network expansion, quality of service improvements and new technologies. This has accelerated in recent months, following the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) issuance of four 4G long-term…

Interview

Making the transition: Ashraf Sabry, CEO, Fawry, on creating a cashless society
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Interview: Ashraf Sabry To what extent have efforts to increase cashless transactions in Egypt been successful? ASHRAF SABRY: The measures have so far been successful, but it still takes time to become a completely cashless society. The country has advanced a lot in expanding what we call “silent business”, the ratio of people carrying cards in their wallets. But this is not enough. You can only become a truly cashless society if cards are being used for everyday business. The practical reality…

Analysis

Speeding ahead: High-speed mobile data networks are moving closer to completion
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In October and November 2016, three of Egypt’s main mobile telecommunications operators – namely Vodafone Egypt, Etisalat Misr and Orange Egypt – signed 4G LTE licence agreements with the country’s telecoms regulator, the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA). This embrace of new, high-speed mobile technology by the nation’s communications providers has been in the works for some time. Indeed, the launch of 4G LTE has been under discussion in Egypt since at least 2014, when the…

Overview

Rising influence: Continuing investment from the state and private players is driving strong ICT growth
OBG
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The steady advance of ICT over the past decade has left Egypt’s tech industry in a strong position, despite the nation’s ongoing economic and political challenges. The country has seen a significant rise in internet penetration in recent years, as a result of growing usage among middle class Egyptians and the business community, rapidly expanding international bandwidth, as well as the accompanying lower tariffs. From November 2014 through October 2015 the country reported a significant increase…

Analysis

Outsourcing on the rise: Business process outsourcing (BPO) is becoming a major source of revenues
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In mid-August 2016 the European Outsourcing Association (EOA) announced that Egypt had been shortlisted for Outsourcing Destination of the Year. The Arab Republic was one of only four countries to make the list, alongside Belarus, Fiji and Sri Lanka. For many local BPO firms currently operating in the country, Egypt’s status as a major centre for offshoring –and particularly for the provision of digital technology-enabled services – has long been well-established. In 2010, it placed…