Saudi Telecom and Lebara KSA officials are in Egypt to discuss the possibility of obtaining a 4G mobile licence, reports Reuters citing an official from Egypt's telecommunications ministry. The official said Saudi Telecom officials are looking into investment opportunities in the telecommunication sector in Egypt, especially the 4G mobile services and were due to complete their discussions with the Minister of Communication and the National Telecom Regulatory Authority on 29 August.
The source said Egypt's telecom minister also held talks on 29 August with the chairman of Lebara KSA, which was among several companies to express an interest in acquiring a 4G license. There were no comments from Saudi Telecom and Lebara. Egypt is giving companies that already operate in the country of 90 million priority in obtaining 4G licences but has said it would launch an international tender should any of the operators decline the offer.
It offered 4G licences in June to the state's fixed-line monopoly Telecom Egypt and the country's three existing mobile service providers - Orange Egypt, Vodafone Egypt and Etisalat Egypt. Only Telecom Egypt has accepted the terms so far. The regulator revised its offer to the mobile operators after they expressed concerns that the frequencies on offer were too limited and has given them until 22 September to give their response.
