Egypt Approves Unified Fixed, Mobile Licence for TE

Egypt’s government has approved a long-awaited plan to issue a unified landline and mobile licence, opening the way for fixed-line monopoly Telecom Egypt to offer mobile services, reports Reuters. The government has also set up a committee comprising representatives from the ministries of telecommunications, finance, investment, commerce and others, to look at the best way for Telecom Egypt to exit Vodafone Egypt. Telecom Egypt was originally given a year to sell its 45 percent stake in Vodafone Egypt, once the unified licence was activated. The government said Telecom Egypt would now have to sell the stake by December 2015.

The unified licence had been due to be activated on 30 June, but that date passed without implementation. In May, Telecom Egypt agreed to pay EGP 2.5 billion for permission to offer mobile services. It has been waiting for the details of the unified licence to be finalised. Egypt’s three existing mobile service providers, Vodafone Egypt, Mobinil and Etisalat Egypt, will also gain the right to enter the market for fixed-line services, using Telecom Egypt’s network.