Noor Data Networks negotiates with Internet providers to establish consortium against TE Data

Noor Data Networks plans to hold negotiations with all Egyptian Internet providers, except for TE Data, to form one entity to counter TE Data’s monopoly on the Internet market.

According to President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Noor Data Networks, Fadi Jundi, the broadband Internet market faces low-quality services. It also faces monopolisation by one company which owns roughly 65% of the market, while the other companies, which include Etisalat, Vodafone, LINKdotNET and Noor, own the remaining 35%.

The current market situation is unhealthy and does not see real competition, according to Jundi, who added that the broadband service is generally getting worse. This is in light of increasing prices compared to the quality of the service. Add to this the fact that high-speed Internet users do not exceed three million, which reflect the market situation. Jundi believes that a powerful local market competitor to TE Data would help improve the service in general.

Jundi said the number of Internet users is continually increasing, with numbers last September being 46.5 million users, an increase of 0.5% from August. The spread of Internet increased to 54.3% compared to the population, a growth of 0.16%. Families with Internet access last September reached 56.5%, an increase of 0.87% from last August. On the other hand, mobile and USB Internet users had the bigger share of Internet access at 52%, while Internet users through ADSL were at 35%. Dial-up Internet users made up to 7%, and leased line users were at 6%.