Al-Masry Al-Youm has obtained a copy of the draft agreement between the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and Telecom Egypt (TE).
According to the document, TE has the right to obtain a license if NTRA allocates frequencies to provide mobile phone services, in accordance with the conditions and rules set for other mobile operators.
The draft allows TE to use its available wireless frequencies for landlines as a mobile phone service in the future, provided that it obtains a prior written approval from NTRA.
It also allows TE to provide mobile services by default, until NTRA launches new frequencies, part of which would be allocated to TE to offer its services independently from other providers.
Communications and Information Technology Minister Khaled Negm had said in a press statement that he prefers to grant the company a license in 2016 for the fourth generation frequencies, which is also mentioned in the draft, whereby TE would then be entitled to the same frequencies as the three other mobile operators.
A senior source in the telecommunications sector explained, that allowing TE to use its second and third generation frequencies by default is logical, as it makes no sense for TE to invest in them if the fourth generation frequencies would be launched soon.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
