Egypt urged to release more mobile spectrum to aid economy

A new report from the mobile trade association GSMA and written by Plum Consulting suggests that Egypt needs to develop its mobile broadband opportunities if it is to benefit from associated economic gains. With one of the world’s lowest levels of spectrum assigned to mobile and a limited fibre capacity, the report calls for a change of regulatory policies to aid mobile operators.

By taking action to increase mobile broadband penetration, the GSMA says the Egyptian government could unlock an additional $43 billion in GDP and help create 1.2 million new jobs across the economy by 2030. In response, Atef Helmy, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, invited the mobile industry to convene a joint task force to address the current constraints and assess the demand and supply requirements to fast-track mobile broadband roll-out.

“Following successful discussions, it is now time for the government and industry to take concrete steps to foster innovation and growth through mobile,” said Helmy. “This cooperation is a critical part of our joint effort to enhance the lives of our citizens and position Egypt as a leader in the region.”