Egypt’s telecommunications and information technology (IT) sector is one of the largest in the Middle East and Africa. Investment in IT—packed software, hardware and IT services—is estimated to have doubled to US$800m in 2005 from US$400m in 1998. At end-2004 (the most recent date for which comparable data are available) Egypt’s fixed-line penetration rate stood at 13.1 lines per 100 persons, ahead of Tunisia and well ahead of Morocco, but behind Iran with 22 lines and Saudi Arabia with 14.8 lines. In terms of mobile penetration, at end-2004 Egypt had 10.4 subscribers per 100 persons, ahead of Iran (6.2), but well behind Tunisia (35.9), Morocco (31.2) and Saudi Arabia (36.8).
Over the past eight years the government has singled out telecoms and IT as an industry to back and has made strenuous efforts to support the sector. Mobile services are now entirely in private hands and private companies have been permitted to operate in Internet service and data network provision. Fixed-line services remain controlled by the state-owned monopoly, Telecom Egypt (TE).
To obtain full coverage of this market, please click here.
Useful Links:
EIU ViewsWire Egypt for comprehensive political, economic and business analysis of Egypt
