The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has started the procedures to raise the efficiency of basic communications services in the Sinai Peninsula, by financing the construction and operation of mobile phone towers for 30 urban areas and four vital roads with lengths of up to 112 km and at a total cost of EGP 513m, provided that the services operate by the end of June 2022.
According to a press release issued by the Authority today, NTRA will finance raising the efficiency of services in the governorates of North and South Sinai through its comprehensive service fund. It is the fund concerned with financing the projects of the national plan for communications and information infrastructure to provide basic communications services.
This is within the framework of the role of NTRA in developing and disseminating telecommunications services across the country with the aim of enhancing national and social cohesion and contributing to achieving economic growth. It is in line with the strategy of the state for comprehensive and sustainable development in Sinai and providing all telecommunications services therein, which contributes to generating new jobs and increasing the population and development area in Sinai.
NTRA explained that, as part of its role in following up the quality of telecommunication services, an impact on the quality of telecommunication services was monitored in some areas and roads in the Sinai Peninsula. Consequently, a limited tender was launched by the companies licensed to establish and operate mobile phone stations to increase the efficiency and increase coverage. Nearly 90 mobile phone towers in the areas and roads were established and operated, including the areas of St. Catherine, Ras Sudr, Al-Tur and Nuweiba.
It is worth noting that NTRA had earlier launched and financed projects to establish, operate and provide mobile phone services for 54 urban areas and 22 strategic roads across the country, with a total length of 3100 km and a total cost of EGP 1.668bn. This comes within the framework of an integrated plan to cover all populated areas of Egypt, including villages and areas of economic and urban expansion, as well as cover new roads with communication services.
