Egypt signs record $3.5bn mobile spectrum deal

Egypt signed on Saturday the largest spectrum deal in the history of its mobile telecommunications sector, allocating 410 megahertz of additional spectrum to mobile operators for $3.5 billion. The allocation equals all spectrum made available over the past 30 years and accounts for more than one-third of the $10 billion invested in spectrum capacity and operating licences during that period.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Communications and Information Technology Minister Amr Talaat described the deal as a strategic step supporting Egypt’s digital transformation and long-term growth of the sector.

Talaat said the expansion aligns with Egypt’s Digital Strategy, which focuses on building digital skills and expanding access to digital services. He highlighted plans to train 800,000 people during the current fiscal year and noted that the Digital Egypt platform now offers more than 210 government services.

He added that the state invested around $6 billion in recent years to upgrade digital infrastructure, including $3.5 billion in fixed broadband. These upgrades contributed to a sixteen-fold increase in average internet speeds since 2019 and kept Egypt ranked first in Africa for fixed broadband speed.

With the latest deal, the total spectrum available to mobile operators has reached 550 megahertz, up from 272 megahertz before 2019, ensuring network readiness for future applications following the launch of fifth-generation services in June 2025.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English