The National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Egypt (NTRA) has initiated the measures to provide mobile coverage for 5 strategic roads. This procedure will take place through limited tenders for licensed operators entitled to establish and operate cell sites, with a cost of EGP 324 million, whereas service would be activated by the beginning of 2022. In fact, NTRA will finance mobile coverage sites through Universal Service Fund, which was mainly founded to finance the projects of Communication and Information Technology as well as infrastructure projects necessary for basic telecom services. Moreover, such a step comes in line with NTRA’s role to develop and disseminate telecom services nationwide, with a major purpose of fostering national as well as social integration and contributing to economic development. It also comes within the frame of the national plan to supply major roads and highways with mobile service, and to provide basic telecom, distress and emergency services along the Arab Republic of Egypt’s strategic roads.

It was pointed out by NTRA that such new measures include providing mobile coverage at strategic roads in Ismailia, Suez, New Valley, Aswan, Giza, Beni Suef, and Menia Governorates. First road to be covered is the Extension of June 30 Axis Road, from Cairo-Ain Sokhna to Cairo-Ismailia Desert Roads, connecting Ismailia with Suez. Meanwhile, the second road is Paris Lake Spillway in New Valley and the third road is the one which lies in Aswan and connects Aswan-Abu Simbel Road with Arqin. The fourth road to be covered is Kuraymat-Beni Suef Road, connecting Giza with Beni Suef, while the service will also extend to include a fifth road; the one connecting Cairo – Asyut Desert Road with Cairo-Aswan Eastern Desert Road, in Menia.

It is worth noting that NTRA, through Universal Service Fund, had previously financed several projects to establish and operate mobile services covering 17 strategic roads nationwide, with an overall length of 2700 KM and a cost reaching EGP 862 million. These efforts actually form a part of an integrated plan to supply the new roads with telecom services.