(AFP Photo)
By Mohamed Alaa Eldin
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology plans to provide broadband services to 90% of Internet users in Egypt by the end of 2020.
According to a ministry official, the Internet speed users will enjoy is expected to reach up to 25MB.
The short-term ministry plan states targets 75% of Internet users will benefit from broadband service by the end of 2016.
The source added that the ministry’s plan is to increase 3G coverage in the country to 98% before the end of 2016. It is also expected to increase 4G/LTE coverage to over 90% by the end of 2020.
The ministry aims to attract 4.5 million families to use broadband technology by the end of 2016, doubling the number to over 9 million families before the end of 2020. The ministry also aims to connect 50% of government entities to an Internet speed of 25MB to serve 50% of the public by 2016 and connect all government entities to the Internet by 2020.
He added that the ministry’s strategy through 2020 entails doubling the size of the market for ICT services from the current EGP 11bn to reach EGP 23bn. The official said that the growth rate will increase from 10% in 2014 to 16% by the end of 2020.
