Telecom Egypt may get mobile licence

The Egyptian government plans to introduce new reforms in the telecommunication industry. According to Reuters, the government is mulling a plan to allow state-controlled Telecom Egypt to launch mobile services. While focused on fixed-line services, Telecom Egypt also owns 45 percent in Vodafone Egypt. The government does not want to bring in another player in a crowded market, so the plan is to convert existing licences, for fixed and mobile, into universal ones allowing all operators to compete in both fixed and wireless. Telecom Egypt could either launch a MVNO service or have its own network. Telecom Egypt would probably have to pay for the licence change, but not too much.