STC, Lebara KSA said to be in talks with Egypt on 4G licenses

Representatives from Saudi Telecom Co. (STC) and Lebara KSA are in talks with Egypt’s telecommunications ministry and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) on obtaining a fourth-generation (4G) mobile license, Reuters reported on Monday, citing an unnamed ministry official.

Discussions are expected to end on Monday, the official said.

STC and Lebara KSA were not immediately available for comment.

Egypt announced a decision to sell 4G licenses in a spectrum allotment as part of a plan to reform the telecom sector. The move would allow fixed-line monopoly Telecom Egypt (TE) to enter the mobile market and enable mobile operators to offer fixed-line services, ending its domination of the sector. 

The government also said it will offer 4G mobile licenses in an international auction if they are not taken up by the three mobile firms operating in the country.

Earlier this month, NTRA, the telecom industry regulator, approved revised terms for 4G mobile broadband network licenses with no change in pricing, giving companies a grace period until midday on September 22 to accept them.

Egypt hopes to collect a total of EGP 22.3 billion ($2.51 billion) from license fees.

Kuwait’s Zain Group and China Telecom Corp had earlier have expressed interest in acquiring the licenses.