Telecom Egypt and Vodafone Egypt have entered into a series of landmark infrastructure service agreements valued at up to E£30 billion ($609 million), aimed at enhancing the country’s telecommunications capabilities, particularly in the area of 5G technology.
Under the agreements, Telecom Egypt will support Vodafone Egypt’s 5G rollout, providing critical infrastructure and services that will enable the deployment of high-speed mobile networks across the country. The agreements also extend Telecom Egypt’s transmission services agreement with Vodafone until 2031.
This collaboration is a key component of Telecom Egypt’s strategy to monetize its expansive network infrastructure, which aligns with Egypt’s broader Vision 2030 plan to foster digital transformation and technological advancement.
In addition to supporting 5G, the deal includes provisions for Vodafone to access Telecom Egypt’s fiber optic network under a four-year agreement, allowing Vodafone to deploy fiber at its mobile sites across Egypt. The agreements also provide Vodafone with access to Telecom Egypt’s virtual fixed voice and Internet services, marking a significant expansion of both companies’ service offerings.
Dr. Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, emphasized the importance of these agreements in the context of the country’s rapidly evolving telecom sector. “The agreements between Telecom Egypt and Vodafone Egypt are a testament to the significant progress made by the telecommunications and information technology sector in Egypt, particularly with the issuance of 5G service licenses to telecom operators,” Talaat said. He noted that 5G technology relies heavily on a robust fiber optic network to connect supporting towers, and the collaboration between the two companies is crucial for delivering enhanced services to Egyptian citizens.
Both Telecom Egypt and Vodafone Egypt secured their 5G licenses earlier this year, along with other telecom operators such as Orange and e&, in a deal worth approximately $675 million. Talaat also highlighted the considerable growth in Egypt’s telecom infrastructure, with mobile carrier and tower companies more than doubling the number of telecom towers in the country over the past five years, bringing the total to over 36,000.
Vodafone Egypt CEO Mohamed Abdallah expressed confidence that the partnership with Telecom Egypt would enhance the company’s ability to provide high-quality services to its customers. “This partnership reflects our commitment to leveraging the latest technological solutions that will enable us to provide high-quality services to our customers in Egypt,” Abdallah said. “It also underscores our efforts to continue investing in the development of network infrastructure and the deployment of high-speed fiber optics.”
Despite the agreements, none of Egypt’s four main telecom carriers have yet launched commercial 5G services. However, Telecom Egypt has signed a deal with network vendor Nokia to deploy its 5G network, marking a significant step toward bringing 5G services to Egypt’s growing market.
As part of Egypt’s efforts to lead the region in digital transformation, these agreements are seen as a vital step in laying the groundwork for the widespread adoption of 5G technology, which is expected to enhance connectivity, support the country’s growing digital economy, and improve telecommunications infrastructure nationwide.
