Egypt has granted tpay, a UAE-headquartered digital payments provider operating across the Middle East and Africa, the country’s first regulatory licence to offer Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) for government services. The approval follows the signing of a framework agreement with Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA).
The licence allows tpay to process payments for government services such as utility bills, traffic fines, and civil registry fees directly through mobile phone balances or monthly mobile bills. This model removes the need for bank accounts or payment cards, significantly lowering barriers to access for millions of citizens.
The move leverages Egypt’s near-universal mobile and mobile-internet penetration to advance financial inclusion, particularly among segments of the population that remain underserved by traditional banking infrastructure. By integrating government payments into everyday mobile usage, the initiative supports broader adoption of digital public services.
With this regulatory approval, Egypt becomes one of the region’s early adopters of carrier-based billing for public-sector payments, reinforcing its efforts to modernize government services and expand inclusive digital payment ecosystems.
