Egypt to invest $1.1bn as part of global digital community scheme

Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail reviewed earlier last week the government’s plan before the parliament with special focus on a plan for the country’s telecommunications sector that aims at ‘converting Egypt into a global digital community’.

The network infrastructure of such a project that will provide high-speed internet services is expected to cost about 10 billion Egyptian pounds ($1.1 billion) in the next three years, the prime minister estimated.

In 2018, the telecommunications industry is expected to grow to $4.5 billion. This will help create more than 120,000 direct and 350,000 indirect job opportunities driven by a development plan that is based on improving information technology services the government provides, Ismail added.

Ismail added that improving government services is represented in providing developed post offices; whose number reaches 412 approximately, that introduces 60 percent of governmental transactions.

He also mentioned the government’s plan to establish seven new technological areas nationwide to achieve technological development, particularly in Upper Egypt.