MVNO, International Licenses to Compromise Between Telecommunications Companies

Eng. Mohamed Nawawy, CEO of Telecom Egypt, stated that there is no difference between the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO)  and the international gateway license except in their names, noting that there are no frequencies allocated for Telecom Egypt, which emphasizes the similarity between the two licenses.

He reported to Amwal Al Ghad that the statements issued by NTRA explaining that launching the license is subject to sovereign authority  are “vague.” He added that Telecom Egypt seeks obtaining the license as fast as possible in order to provide integrated services including voice, fixed and mobile internet.

The three mobile operators do not need to  provide land line services,  particularly because they are concerned with mobile voice services, stressing that 85% of the volume of expenditures on communications is directed towards the mobile sector.

Nawawy further said Telecom Egypt does not represent a part of a very important sector of information technology, while mobile operators provide semi-integrated services, given that they offer fixed internet services based on the infrastructure of Telecom Egypt. He emphasized that the new license will establish cooperation based on mutual interest between Telecom Egypt and mobile operators.

Nawawy also pointed out that the communications market in Egypt has recorded about EGP 30 billion last year, noting that Telecom Egypt has acquired 13.3% of the local  markets offering consolidated communications and internet services. It represented about 4 billion of the volume of expenditures on communications.