Egypt’s fixed-line operator, Telecom Egypt, would be charged $359 million for a unified licence enabling it to offer mobile services, telecommunications minister Atef Helmy announced at a press conference.
In addition, Telecom Egypt has been given a one-year deadline to sell its near-45% stake in Vodafone Egypt, Helmy added.
The licence will allow the fixed-line operator to offer MVNO services over the network of an existing mobile operator.
The country’s three mobile operators – Vodafone Egypt, Mobinil and Etisalat Egypt – will be charged $14.3 million each for unified licences, giving them the right to offer fixed-line services over Telecom Egypt’s network.
Details of the unified licence for both mobile and fixed services will be finalised by 30 June.
Egypt’s telecoms regulator announced at the end of March that it is set to grant the new form of licence within the next three months.
