Zain Speaks To Egypt Telecom Regulatory Body for 4G Licence

credit: zain.com

Zain, a mobile telecommunications company founded in 1983 in Kuwait as Mobile Telecommunications Company, which has commercial presence in 8 countries across the Middle East and North Africa has sent a letter to Egypt's telecommunications regulatory body expressing interest in obtaining a fourth-generation (4G) licence.

Zain is studying a number of investment opportunities available in the region, one of which is the Egyptian telecommunications market as a strategic market in the Middle East and Africa", the company said, adding that it had made the approach through one of its subsidiaries.

A senior Egyptian telecommunications ministry official told Reuters on Sunday that Zain had expressed interest in applying for a 4G licence. Sales of such licences are part of the country's long-awaited plan to reform its telecommunications sector. 

The long awaited plan for Egypt to re-brand the telecoms sector seems to be coming to reality has its telecoms regulator has approached three mobile service providers (Orange Egypt, Vodafone Egypt, and Etisalat) that are currently operating in the country about the possibility of buying 4G licences.

The current operators have until the first week of August, 2016 to submit applications for a 4G licence. Communications Minister Yasser al-Kadi said in June that Egypt would offer 4G licences in an international auction if the existing carriers were not interested.