Ericsson has entered into an agreement with e& Egypt to launch 5G services throughout Egypt. This partnership will enable Ericsson to provide its latest energy-efficient 5G portfolio, ensuring high performance and reliable connectivity as the network expands. The portfolio is designed to handle various site types and traffic scenarios, delivering optimal performance as mobile technology and capacity evolve.
This initiative aligns with the Egyptian government’s recent agreements for the second phase of 5G licenses, granted to three mobile operators: Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, and e& Egypt. These agreements aim to enhance network services, significantly improve communication quality, and expand network capacity. The government reportedly generated around $675 million from selling 5G service licenses to the country’s four telecom operators, including Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, e& Egypt, and the state-owned Telecom Egypt.
Ericsson’s latest 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) portfolio will be implemented using the Ericsson Radio System products and solutions. The introduction of 5G will provide consumers and enterprises in Egypt with faster speeds, lower latency, and greater network resilience, contributing to societal advancement, industry transformation, and improved everyday experiences.
This announcement follows Nokia’s collaboration with Telecom Egypt, the government-owned telecom provider, to introduce 5G technology to the country for the first time. Nokia will supply 5G-ready services to Egyptian cities, including Alexandria, Aswan, Cairo, Giza, and Luxor, deploying its AirScale portfolio, which includes Massive MIMO radios, baseband, remote radio heads, and related services, later in 2024.
Amr Talaat, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, has confirmed Egypt’s readiness to deliver cutting-edge 5G technologies, which will enhance service quality and mobile network capacity. This development aligns with Egypt’s strategy to provide advanced technological services supporting key sectors such as smart cities, logistics, healthcare, and agriculture, all reliant on IoT technologies powered by 5G.
With a mobile phone penetration rate of approximately 95%, accounting for over 100 million subscriptions, and an Internet penetration rate of 49%, Egypt is committed to accelerating its digitalization efforts. The government has introduced a new component titled “Digital Egypt” as part of its “Vision 2030” strategy, aiming to establish the foundation for transforming the nation into a fully digital society.
This partnership also highlights Ericsson’s growing interest in Africa, with the recent announcement of a strategic collaboration with the Nigerian government to explore the potential of 5G technology in that country.
