News
Vodafone, Orange claim not enough spectrum was being made available.
Egypt may invite international players to take part in a 4G frequency auction, after three of the country’s four mobile operators rejected licences offered to them by the regulator.
Vodafone and Orange said in separate statements that an insufficient quantity of spectrum was proposed by Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), and would have resulted in a lacklustre 4G experience for customers.
"The licence does not offer sufficient spectrum to operate 4G services efficiently and in a way that would allow the Egyptian user to experience significantly higher speeds," said Vodafone.
"Orange Egypt considers that the quantity of spectrum offered is not enough to offer the Egyptian customers the quality of 4G services that they deserve," said Orange.
Reuters reported last week that Etisalat Egypt has also declined the 4G licence; however, it has yet to confirm precisely why.
The NTRA will now consider auctioning the 4G licences, inviting international operators to participate. China Telecom, Lebara Saudi Arabia, Saudi Telecom, and Kuwait-based Zain have all previously shown interest in entering Egypt.
"The options will be presented to the board of directors at its next meeting, in early October," the NTRA said, in the report.
Incumbent Telecom Egypt is the only operator to have accepted the terms; in late August it agreed to pay 7.08 billion Egyptian pounds (€713.14 million) for a 4G licence.
The licence grants the fixed-line incumbent permission to use 2×5 MHz of 1800-MHz spectrum and 2×10 MHz of 700-MHz spectrum for the next 15 years.
