Telecom Egypt cuts costs to replace to fibre optic cables

Telecom Egypt, the country’s landline monopoly, considers slashing the total investment cost to replace the copper cables with fibre optic cables below 6 billion Egyptian pounds (US$766.5 million).

The plan to replace copper cables with fibre optic cables aims to raise the network efficiency and provide high-quality communication services.

Osama Yassin told Amwal Al Ghad Saturday that the budget of the project will be re-studied once so as to reduce the costs.

In 2012, Telecom Egypt decided to replace the copper Internet cables with high speed fiber optic cables so as to provide high speed internet services. It has invested 2.5 billion pounds in the replacement plan during 2014.  Telecom Egypt is expected to provide 4 million homes with fiber optic cables with total investments worth 6 billion pounds.

Telecom Egypt’s replacement plan has aroused several complaints from fixed-line internet providers.

Telecom regulator, NTRA is reportedly examining whether it should provide privately-owned operators with compensation for damages incurred as a result of state-owned Telecom Egypt’s replacement of copper cables with fibre across the country.