Cairo - Mubasher: The current timing for a fourth mobile operator to enter the market is not a good one, said Alex Shalaby, former managing director of Mobinil, Orange Egypt currently.
This is due to the economic situation and market saturation, which will slow growth or may result in reporting losses, Shalaby said on the Sunday evening Hona Al’asema programme.
He noted that the three mobile companies currently operating in Egypt, namely Orange, Vodafone, and Etisalat, have already reached the stage in which they are suffering losses.
Speaking about the latest updates in the telecommunications sector, Shalaby highlighted the need for investment in infrastructure, adding that the private sector should add frequencies and devices to raise the efficiency of telecommunication services in Egypt.
As for internet services, Egypt has a unique geographical location in terms of passing submarine cables, he said, pointing out that despite the large number of cables, there is a need for investment to improve state services specifically.
In October 2016, the three operators signed an agreement with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) to provide 4G mobile and fixed phones services.
