LE 20 bln telecom proceeds to be allocated to public services, says Nazif

Cairo: Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said on Monday the revenues gained from selling the third license of mobile network, which amounts to LE 20 billion, will be used in establishing more infrastructure, education and health projects, reported the State Information Service. Nazif told reporters that the government pays due attention to the communications and Information Technology sectors. Egypt has become a beacon of technology in the region and can stand up to the international cut-throat competition, Nazif stated following his attendance of the signing of an agreement allowing telecommunications giant Vodafone to launch its third generation (3G) network. Vodafone has paid LE3.34 billion to get the 3G license. The sum will go directly to public services like sewage and drinking water, so that citizens can feel the benefits of such deals, Nazif was reported to have said. Minister of Communications Tarek Kamel after signing the agreement with Vodafone said that the telecommunication company is the second to apply 3G services in Egypt. Etisalat Misr Company, a consortium of the UAE Etisalat, the National Bank of Egypt and the Postal Authority, won the third mobile network concession late last year and a license to use the third generation applications, the reports added. The 3G services include mobile TV, push-to-talk/view and fast mobile access to the Internet.