Egypt sets five-year telecom spectrum roadmap

Egypt has unveiled a national telecom spectrum strategy covering 2026 to 2030, anchoring the plan with agreements valued at about $3.5 billion for new frequency allocations as the government moves to expand mobile capacity, prepare for advanced services and stabilise long-term investment conditions for operators.

The framework was announced alongside the signing of separate accords by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority with the country’s licensed mobile companies to formalise access to additional spectrum bands. The deals set out payment schedules, licence terms and rollout obligations, giving operators clarity on spectrum availability over the next five years while providing the state with a predictable revenue stream.

Officials said the roadmap is designed to address surging data demand, rising network congestion in urban centres and the need to future-proof infrastructure for technologies beyond fourth-generation mobile services. Egypt’s smartphone penetration and mobile data consumption have climbed steadily, driven by video streaming, digital payments and enterprise connectivity, placing pressure on existing spectrum holdings.

Under the agreements, Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, Etisalat Egypt and Telecom Egypt’s mobile arm, WE, will each acquire defined frequency blocks across low-, mid- and higher-band ranges. The allocations are intended to improve coverage quality, boost speeds and allow operators to refarm spectrum more efficiently as traffic patterns evolve. While fifth-generation mobile services are not being launched at scale immediately, the strategy explicitly preserves bands that can be activated when market readiness, device availability and business cases align.

Regulators described the $3.5 billion figure as the cumulative value of licence fees and associated payments over the strategy period rather than a single upfront auction take. Spreading payments is expected to ease balance-sheet pressure on operators at a time when they are also investing heavily in fibre backhaul, data centres and energy-efficient networks.

The plan builds on earlier spectrum assignments and network modernisation programmes, but marks the first time Egypt has laid out a multi-year spectrum policy with defined milestones. Industry executives attending the announcement said the longer planning horizon reduces regulatory uncertainty, which has been a persistent concern for telecom investors across emerging markets.

Beyond mobile broadband, the spectrum roadmap also supports the expansion of fixed wireless access, private networks for industry and improved connectivity for transport corridors and new urban developments. Authorities have linked the strategy to broader digital transformation goals, including smart cities, cloud adoption and the growth of technology-enabled services exports.

Competition dynamics are another focus. By allocating spectrum in a balanced manner among existing licensees, the regulator aims to maintain a level playing field while encouraging service differentiation through quality rather than price wars alone. Analysts note that Egypt’s mobile market is highly competitive, with average revenue per user under pressure, making efficient spectrum use critical to sustaining margins.

The agreements include coverage and quality-of-service commitments, particularly in densely populated governorates and along major highways. Operators are expected to coordinate deployments to minimise duplication of infrastructure where feasible, a move intended to lower costs and accelerate rollout timelines.

International equipment vendors and tower companies are watching the strategy closely. Clear spectrum visibility often unlocks financing for network upgrades and long-term supply contracts, and Egypt’s scale makes it one of the more significant telecom markets in the Middle East and North Africa region. The country’s geographic position also gives it strategic importance for subsea cable landings and regional data traffic flows.

Officials said the strategy was developed after consultations with operators, technology providers and policy stakeholders, and aligns with global best practices on spectrum management, including technology neutrality and transparent licensing conditions. The regulator retains flexibility to adjust specific bands or timelines in response to technological shifts or unforeseen market developments.