Grace Ashiru
On Monday, July 15, 2024, Nokia announced in a press release that it has forged a new partnership with Telecom Egypt, the state-owned telecom provider, to introduce fifth-generation (5G) technology to Egypt for the first time. This initiative aims to transform the country’s telecom landscape by significantly enhancing capacity and connectivity. As a result of this collaboration, 5G-ready services will soon be available in Egyptian cities such as Alexandria, Aswan, Cairo, Giza, and Luxor. Under the terms of the partnership, Nokia will supply 5G radio access network (RAN) equipment from its extensive AirScale portfolio, which includes Massive MIMO radios, baseband, remote radio heads, and various services. Nokia is set to deploy this equipment later in 2024.
Nokia’s energy-efficient ReefShark System-on-Chip technology will be utilized to deliver 5G capacity and coverage to Telecom Egypt’s customers. According to Nokia, the new 5G technology will significantly benefit the North African nation by providing better Internet connections, enhanced network performance, and improved capacity, especially in Egypt’s most densely populated areas.
Nokia highlighted that this advancement would lead to unprecedented innovation and efficiency across various industries, enabling numerous organizations to thrive in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Furthermore, Nokia plans to offer a range of professional services, including deployment, integration, and network optimization.
Mohamed Al Fowey, the Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Telecom Egypt, stated that the new agreement with Nokia solidifies their longstanding partnership and reaffirms the government-owned telco’s dedication to delivering exceptional digital services, positioning itself at the forefront of the 5G revolution.
“Our consumer and enterprise customers can anticipate enhanced mobile broadband and exciting new applications that take advantage of the speed and low latency of 5G technology,” he added.
In January 2024, Egypt’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) granted Telecom Egypt a 15-year license for $150 million to operate 5G, making it the first mobile operator in the country to secure such a license.
Just days before the license approval, the telco announced its partnership with Zain Omantel International Company (ZOI), a telecom wholesale company, to develop new digital infrastructure and establish a data transfer route connecting Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Arabian Gulf.
Telecom Egypt, which has been providing retail telecommunication services for over 50 years, reported a 48% net profit increase for the first nine months of 2023.
