Telecom Egypt and Vodafone Egypt have signed a landmark agreement, totalling over £600 million (E£30 billion), to develop and build Egypt’s upcoming 5G infrastructure. The agreement, signed this week, not only secures Vodafone’s access to Telecom Egypt’s expansive fiber optic network but also extends their existing transmission services contract until 2031.

This collaboration is a step toward realizing Egypt’s Vision 2030—a national blueprint aimed at comprehensive digital transformation across the country. Through this partnership, Telecom Egypt will support Vodafone’s drive to implement 5G services by granting access to its fiber optic networks for four years, a critical step to ensuring stable, high-speed connectivity for Vodafone’s mobile sites across Egypt.

In a statement, Dr. Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, highlighted the importance of the partnership: “The agreements between Telecom Egypt and Vodafone Egypt are a testament to the significant progress made by the telecommunications and information technology sector in Egypt, particularly with the issuance of 5G service licenses to telecom operators,” he said. Emphasizing the foundational role of a robust fiber network in 5G services, Talaat noted the efforts made in recent years to fortify the nation’s mobile infrastructure.

This year has already been a pivotal one for Egypt’s telecom industry. Both Telecom Egypt and Vodafone Egypt, along with Orange and e&, have obtained 5G licenses, with a combined investment of approximately $675 million. The groundwork for 5G in Egypt has been progressing steadily, with the number of telecom towers more than doubling in the past five years, now numbering over 36,000.

Mohamed Abdallah, CEO of Vodafone Egypt, stressed the company’s commitment to strengthening network services in the country. “This partnership reflects our commitment to leveraging the latest technological solutions that will enable us to provide high-quality services to our customers in Egypt,” Abdallah stated, noting the importance of fiber optics in supporting their network growth and the company’s recent $150 million investment into the 5G license.

While 5G services have yet to be launched by Egypt’s main telecom providers, Telecom Egypt has already established a foundation through a prior agreement with Nokia to begin implementing its 5G network. The latest partnership with Vodafone signifies a notable leap forward in Egypt’s telecom evolution, setting the stage for 5G services to soon become part of daily life across the country.