The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Atef Helmy held today a press conference at the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) premises where he presented latest developments in the ICT sector, its vision towards shifting to digital economy and the positive impacts on the national economy.

NTRA Chairman Hesham El-Alayli attended the press conference among leaders of mobile and fixed phones operators.

In his speech, the ICT minister expressed his content  for reaching consensus among companies regarding the unified license that represents an important step towards developing the communications sector, and a shift towards digital economy.

Helmy  thanked the Egyptian Cabinet of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb for his support and profound belief in the ICT tools’  vital role in creating a technology system capable of facing society challenges.

He also thanked NTRA board of directors and executive board headed by El-Alayli for efforts they exerted on  the unified license to see light with such professionalism.

He also thanked telecommunications companies for their role as main partners in developing communications services in the Egyptian market. Helmy also announced the formation of the founding committee of the national entity in cooperation with the communications companies.

On another level, El-Alayli praised the great support of Helmy to remove all obstacles in order for the unified license to come out in an idealistic manner.

He explained the details of the new license system and its three phases; and the benefits for the ICT sector, State and user. Integrating services of the Unified License will lead to four strong entities capable of investing in telecommunications infrastructure where they can provide same services and have the same obligations. This is to establish a free market competition, improve service quality and provide innovative offers for the benefit of the user.

According to El-Alayli, four areas of the broadband pilot project were granted to TE Data. NTRA BoD decided to re-launch the fifth area tender among companies to obtain the best price and technical solution, thus matching the other four areas.

He also announced the approval of NTRA on KA Band service and satellite internet services that provide high speed and affordable prices especially in marginalized areas.

Moreover, El-Alayli explained NTRA steps in cooperation with mobile operators to improve service quality and reduce the impact of power cuts on them.

The conference tackled NTRA policy to hinder the phenomenon of inaccurate data and measures taken which brought fruitful results. The service was suspended for more than 3.8 million users  who haven’t completed their data. More than 4 million were put out of service for their random use of sim cards. 

The total number of mobile subscribers in Egypt is 93 million instead of 102 million last April.
 More than 14 million subscribers updated their data.

Furthermore, the conference discussed amendments to legislations of the Telecom law and cyber security that NTRA is about to finalize, including mechanisms to strengthen NTRA role in managing the telecom sector.