Telecoms news from Egypt

Egypt's Orascom Telecom Rejects Takeover Bid from Russia's Altimo

Orascom Telecom Holding's board of directors has decided to reject the offer from Russia's Altimo has launched a bid to buy the remainder of the company that it does not already own. ...more.

Telecom Egypt Aiming for July Launch of Own Mobile Service

Egypt's monopoly landline operator, Telecom Egypt says that it stands ready to launch its own mobile network services as soon as the regulator grants the necessary license. ...more.

Vodafone Egypt Affected by a Lack of Foreign Currency to Settle Bills

Vodafone Egypt is facing an unusual financing problem when paying its bills -- a lack of foreign currency. The company is asking suppliers to accept payment in the local currency to help stem the problem. ...more.

Ericsson Tests Low-Energy Base Station in Egypt

Ericsson says that it successfully tested Psi-Coverage, an energy-saving solution in the Vodafone Egypt Network. ...more.

Russia's Altimo Launches Takeover Bid for Orascom Telecom

Russia's Altimo has launched a bid to buy the remainder of Egypt's Orascom Telecom Holding that it does not already control through its stake in VimpelCom. ...more.

Telecom Egypt Posts Fall in Full Year Profits - Plans 4G Network

Telecom Egypt has posted a near 13 percent fall in its full-year profits of EGP2.61 billion (US$386 million) as the country's economy was hurt in the post-Mubarak confusion. ...more.

Egypt to Set Price for 4th Mobile License by Second Half of Year

Egypt's telecoms regulator is to set the final price for the country's fourth mobile license by the second half of this year. ...more.

Egypt's Mobinil to Increase Listing on Local Stock Exchange

Egypt's Mobinil is looking at options to raise the percentage of the company listed on the local stock exchange. ...more.

Mobinil Faces Prosecution Over Misleading Adverts

Egypt based mobile network operator, Mobinil has been referred to prosecutors by the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) after it was accused of running misleading adverts touting the quality of its network. ...more.

Egyptian Networks Summoned by Minister to Discuss PrePay Costs

Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Mr. Atef Helmy has met with the heads of mobile phone operators in the Egyptian market to discuss an issue with prepay topup prices. ...more.

Telecom Egypt Awaits Decision on Sale of Vodafone Stake

Telecom Egypt may be required to sell its 45% stake in Vodafone's local mobile network in order to secure its own MVNO licenses, the company has confirmed. ...more.

Ericsson Wins Egyptian Network Upgrade Contract

Ericsson has announced a new agreement with Etisalat Egypt to "transform" the telecom operator's radio network. ...more.

Egypt to Award Fourth Mobile Operator License to State-Owned Company

Telecom Egypt will be allocated a mobile operator license by the middle of next year, while the incumbent mobile networks will be allowed to provide landline services, the regulator has confirmed. ...more.

RIM Delays North African R&D Centre due to Egyptian Turmoil

Research in Motion has delayed plans to open a R&D centre in Egypt due to the ongoing political strife in the country. The centre had been due to open by the end of this year in Cairo. ...more.

Huawei Opens Network Operations Centre in Egypt

Huawei has opened a Network Operation Center (NOC) in Cairo, Egypt to operate and manage telecommunication networks, and provide professional services to operators in Northern Africa Region. ...more.

Naguib Sawiris Launches $5 Billion Lawsuit Against Algerian Government

Egypt's Naguib Sawiris is launch of a US$5 billion claim against the Algerian government for damages to Weather Investments' stake in Orascom Telecom Algérie (Djezzy) ...more.

Egypt Mulls Shake-Up of Telecoms Licenses

The Egyptian government is mulling plans to shake up the telecoms market - not by issuing a fourth mobile license, but by converting existing companies into universal licenses ...more.

Orascom to Seek Formal Control of Canadian Subsidiary

The company announced that it is converting its non-voting shares in the Canadian mobile network, Globalive -- which trades as Wind -- in order to take absolute control of the company. ...more.

Egypt Mulls Option for Fourth Mobile Operator License

The Egyptian government is again looking at the possibility of awarding a fourth mobile license in the country, although no decision is expected until early next year. ...more.

Targeted Triple-play Services Could Increase Operator Revenue in Egyptian Market

Despite the economic downturn, the mobile telecom market in Egypt witnessed high growth, with an average growth rate of about 23.1 per cent since 2008, mainly due to aggressive pricing competition among the three market participants -- Mobinil, Vodafone and Etisalat Misr. ...more.