Egypt reviews plans to expand 5G, AI, cloud infrastructure

Egypt reviewed plans on Sunday to expand fifth-generation (5G) mobile services, fibre optic networks, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing infrastructure as part of efforts to accelerate digital transformation and strengthen the competitiveness of its information and communications technology sector.

During a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Communications and Information Technology Minister Raafat Hindy said the government was expanding the nationwide fibre optic network, replacing copper cables, rolling out 5G services and increasing the number of mobile telecommunications towers to improve internet services.

Hindy said fibre optic networks had been extended to more than 1,250 villages under the Hayat Karima Initiative, improving access to digital services in rural areas.

The meeting also reviewed plans to expand digital infrastructure supporting AI applications and attract investment in cloud computing through the development of hyperscale data centres.

Hindy said the ministry’s Applied Innovation Centre had developed AI applications for the healthcare, education, agriculture and culture sectors, as well as the Karnak large language model to support Arabic generative AI applications.

He added that Egypt had climbed 60 places over the past six years in the 2025 Government AI Readiness Index published by Oxford Insights, ranking first in Africa and 51st globally.

Madbouly called for wider adoption of AI and cloud computing technologies and continued support for the Applied Innovation Centre’s projects as part of Egypt’s digital transformation strategy.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser