The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has allocated new frequencies to Orange Egypt, offering 30MHz in the frequency space of 2,600MHz with a Time Division Duplex (TDD) system.
The new frequencies were allocated in return for USD 440 million, to be used for providing mobile phone services in the Arab Republic of Egypt. The frequencies can be used for both 4G and 5G deployments.
According to the NTRA this step was taken in completion of the process initiated by NTRA to allocate new frequency bands of 80MHz within the 2,600MHz band, via TDD. In fact, the aforementioned frequencies were allocated to Vodafone Egypt, Egypt Telecom (WE) and Etisalat Egypt in return for US$1.1 billion.
By virtue of the new agreement signed between the NTRA and Orange Egypt, 30MHz shall be allocated to the latter within 2,600MHz, via TDD, and return for US$440 million. Therefore, the value of frequencies allocated to the four mobile operators within 2,600MHz has now reached a total of US$1.6 billion.
"Moreover, the step comes in conjunction with the inclusive plan set for improving telecom quality for mobile users in Egypt. New standards have been actually established and are included in the addendum signed between NTRA and Orange Egypt, to boost telecom services in Egypt’s market, in terms of voice and data, complying with the norms and standards established worldwide," the regulator said.
According to local media reports, Orange was the only telco not to get its hands on new frequencies back in 2020. Vodafone Egypt bought two 20-MHz bands, while Etisalat Misr and Telecom Egypt got two 10-MHz bands each. Orange was reported to have bid in the original auction, only to lose out to Etisalat.
