The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a system for protecting free competition in the local telecommunications market.
This cooperation comes within the framework of unifying the visions of regulatory agencies to attract and promote new investments. Furthermore, it aims to integrate regulatory and supervisory work mechanisms in the field of telecommunications as the mainstay of the digital transformation process. It also seeks to ensure there are no monopolistic practices that could negatively affect the services provided to citizens in the Egyptian telecom market.
The MoU was signed by Hossam El-Gamal, CEO of NTRA, and Mahmoud Momtaz, head of ECA.
El-Gamal said the MoU, upon which a joint executive committee will be formed, comes within the framework of NTRA’s interest in coordinating and cooperating with ECA, and preventing monopolistic practices to strengthen market mechanisms and support the competitive environment which attracts investment in the telecommunications market. Moreover, the exchange of experiences among both parties comes in implementation of NTRA’s strategy and vision to develop the telecommunications market and open up investment prospects in a fair and secure competitive environment. It also complements the joint cooperation agreements NTRA had with various government agencies to unify efforts with the aim of developing the Egyptian telecommunications market.
He added that NTRA, in accordance with Law No. 10 of 2003 of the regulation of telecommunications, is the official authority in charge of regulating the telecommunications sector in the Arab Republic of Egypt. This targets meeting the economic, production and administrative needs of individuals, institutions, and companies.
For his part, Mahmoud Momtaz said that the telecommunications and information technology sector is one of the important economic sectors that the agency focuses on within the framework of its role to monitor all economic activities. It also investigates and researches procedures and gathering to deal with agreements and practices that result in preventing or harming free competition.
He noted that the new joint executive committee’s main objective is to develop more executive frameworks for the cooperation protocol between the two agencies and harness all the expertise and capabilities of the agency in the field of competition to continuously monitor and enhance this sector in cooperation with NTRA.
NTRA’s role and expertise in this vital sector will help enhance competition, especially in light of the digitization trend. This eventually benefits customers and improves their access to services in a competitive manner. It also opens markets in this promising sector, attracting more investments, and confronting any practices that may result in preventing or restricting freedom of competition, in implementation of the second objective of the agency’s work strategy, which focuses on reducing legislation, policies, and decisions that restrict free competition.
