{"id":15650,"date":"2026-06-01T11:38:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T09:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/?p=15650"},"modified":"2026-06-01T11:41:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T09:41:20","slug":"internet-speed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/internet-speed\/","title":{"rendered":"Egypt Raises Internet Prices Up to 15% \u2014 While Telecom Profits Surge and Complaints Mount"},"content":{"rendered":"<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">On May 6th, the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) of Egypt <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1HzTwj14EH\/\">announced<\/a> price adjustments on certain telecommunications services and internet packages \u2014 both mobile and fixed \u2014 of between 9% and 15%, justifying the move by citing the rising exchange rate, higher electricity and diesel prices used to power mobile towers, increased operational and labor costs, network expansions and upgrades due to higher international shipping costs, disruptions to supply chains, and rising prices for electronic chips used in telecommunications equipment and devices, affected by regional conflict.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Prices of telecommunications and internet services in Egypt have, over the past few years, witnessed successive waves of repricing linked to rising operational costs, a declining pound, and increased demand for data services. This began in 2017, following the pound&#8217;s flotation, when the NTRA <a href=\"https:\/\/megamasr.news\/%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AE%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86\/\">approved<\/a> an increase on prepaid recharge cards of up to 35\u201336%. With escalating inflationary pressures since 2022, telecom companies began gradually raising <a href=\"https:\/\/masaar.net\/en\/the-right-to-connectivity-under-price-pressures\/\">package prices<\/a>, with some packages recording increases of between 10% and 17% during 2023.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">By the end of 2024, the government <a href=\"https:\/\/asharqbusiness.com\/financial-reports\/120863\/%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%81%D8%B2-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A6%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%B5%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%88%D9%86\/\">permitted<\/a> the four telecom companies operating in the market \u2014 Vodafone Egypt, a subsidiary of South Africa&#8217;s Vodacom Group; Orange Egypt, a subsidiary of the French Orange Group; e&amp; Egypt, a subsidiary of the UAE&#8217;s e&amp; Group; and Telecom Egypt &#8220;WE&#8221; \u2014 to raise their package prices and monthly telecom and internet bills by between 17% and 30%, citing higher costs resulting from rising fuel and electricity prices and the liberalization of the pound&#8217;s exchange rate against the dollar.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%;\"><iframe id=\"zw-ei1\" style=\"border: none; display: block; width: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/agamalziada.github.io\/internet-egypt\/en-internet-chart1-prices-before-after.html\" width=\"100%\" height=\"50\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><script>!function(){var e=document.getElementById(\"zw-ei1\");window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(m){if(m.data&&m.data.type===\"chartResize\"&&m.source===e.contentWindow)e.style.height=m.data.height+\"px\";});}();<\/script><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" data-pm-slice=\"0 0 []\">In May 2026, the prices of some fixed internet packages <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/www.elbalad.news\/6970319\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">rose<\/a>, including: the 140 GB package, to 287.28 Egyptian pounds ($5.52) instead of 239.4 Egyptian pounds ($4.60); the 200 GB package to 396.72 Egyptian pounds ($7.63) instead of 330.6 Egyptian pounds ($6.36); the 250 GB package to 492.48 Egyptian pounds ($9.47) instead of 410.4 Egyptian pounds ($7.89); the 400 GB package to 779.76 Egyptian pounds ($14.99) instead of 649.8 Egyptian pounds ($12.50); and the 600 GB package to 1,020 Egyptian pounds ($19.62) instead of 850 Egyptian pounds ($16.35). At the same time, some companies introduced lower-priced <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youm7.com\/story\/2026\/5\/6\/%D9%85%D9%86-9-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-15-%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%AA\/7404559\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">packages<\/a>, including a fixed internet option at 150 Egyptian pounds ($2.88) and a mobile package starting from 5 Egyptian pounds ($0.10).<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">As for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.almasryalyoum.com\/news\/details\/4263858\">prices<\/a> of prepaid recharge cards, they rose following the latest increase as follows: from 13 to 15 Egyptian pounds, from 16.5 to 19 Egyptian pounds, from 19.5 to 22.5 Egyptian pounds, from 26 to 30 Egyptian pounds, from 100 to 115 Egyptian pounds, from 200 to 230 Egyptian pounds, and from 300 to 345 Egyptian pounds.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">The latest wave of increases triggered widespread <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Unlimited_internetEG\/comments\/1slhlzp\/%D8%AE%D8%AF%D8%B9%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AA_%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%A7_%D8%B1%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%B5_%D8%A5%D8%AD%D9%86%D8%A7_%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%B9_%D8%AA%D9%85%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AA_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%AD\/\">discontent<\/a> among users, who felt that rising prices were not matched by any tangible improvement in the quality of services provided, accusing telecom companies of seeking to maximize profits at consumers&#8217; expense. A number of users also launched <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%B9%D8%A9_%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA\">calls<\/a> on social media to boycott telecom companies for one month, in protest over rising prices and deteriorating service quality.<\/p>\n<blockquote dir=\"ltr\"><p>During the second half of 2025 alone, the NTRA <a href=\"https:\/\/alresalanews.com\/38748\/\">received<\/a> 139,405 complaints from users of fixed telephone, mobile, and internet services \u2014 this despite the state <a href=\"https:\/\/sis.gov.eg\/ar\/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A\/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%84%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%AA\/2025-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%82-%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%83%D9%86%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA\/\">injecting<\/a> more than $6 billion into developing the sector&#8217;s infrastructure, and mobile companies <a href=\"https:\/\/asharqbusiness.com\/financial-reports\/120863\/%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%81%D8%B2-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A6%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%B5%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%88%D9%86\/\">obtaining<\/a> licenses to operate 5G services at $670 million per company.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr dir=\"ltr\" \/>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Poor Service<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Nada Ali, a resident of Alexandria Governorate, recounts that she faces recurring problems with fixed internet services from one of the companies despite paying her fees on time, telling Zawia3 that the service experiences persistent outages lasting days without any actual resolution.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">She told Zawia3: &#8220;During periods of outage, I contacted customer service several times and received promises each time that the problem would be resolved, but the faults continued without any noticeable improvement for 10 consecutive days. Despite this, the telecom companies surprised us with price increases, without compensating us for the outage periods that directly affected my work and my children&#8217;s ability to continue their lessons and educational content throughout those days.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%;\"><iframe id=\"zw-ei2\" style=\"border: none; display: block; width: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/agamalziada.github.io\/internet-egypt\/en-internet-chart2-price-hike-waves.html\" width=\"100%\" height=\"50\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><script>!function(){var e=document.getElementById(\"zw-ei2\");window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(m){if(m.data&&m.data.type===\"chartResize\"&&m.source===e.contentWindow)e.style.height=m.data.height+\"px\";});}();<\/script><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote dir=\"ltr\"><p>Amid the economic crisis, rising <a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/egypt\/inflation-cpi\">inflation rates<\/a>, and eroding purchasing power of wages, increases in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1HzTwj14EH\/\">prices<\/a> of internet and telecommunications services have become an additional burden on millions of Egyptians \u2014 particularly students, employees, and remote workers. The crisis is compounded by recurring complaints about poor network quality, slow internet speeds, and frequent outages, despite the massive profits that telecom companies achieve annually. While package costs rise periodically, income and salary levels have not seen comparable increases, driving large segments of households to reduce their digital consumption or place further pressure on basic living expenses.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">This is what Mohamed Mahmoud, a resident of Assiut Governorate, is experiencing. He filed a complaint with the NTRA via the hotline &#8220;155&#8221; after his 140 GB fixed internet package \u2014 priced at the time at 287.28 Egyptian pounds ($5.52) \u2014 was exhausted within just 11 days, despite describing his consumption as &#8220;moderate.&#8221; He adds that he later received a response from the NTRA indicating that the telecom company had confirmed the accuracy of consumption rates and the absence of any technical fault, while also noting the recurrence of home internet outages and poor service quality.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">He told Zawia3: &#8220;I contacted customer service more than 18 times in less than a month due to recurring internet problems, without any clear explanation or final resolution. Despite the recurring technical faults, slow internet speeds, and poor network quality coinciding with rising prices, we are forced to subscribe to services because of our total dependence on the internet and the lack of alternatives in the market.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Mahmoud called for a review of the home internet service pricing system, proposing the provision of unlimited home packages at reasonable prices with stable speeds sufficient for daily household use, and their separation from commercial-use packages for businesses, cafes, content creators, and enterprises that require higher upload speeds and more intensive services.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Iman Khaled<\/strong>, a Cairo resident who subscribed to a fixed internet service and landline phone, and paid the contract fees three months ago, confirms that the fiber cable was installed inside her home, but the service has not been activated due to the failure to deliver the router for the new network.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">She told Zawia3: &#8220;I contacted customer service repeatedly, but received promises that were not fulfilled. I feel the user is powerless to reclaim their rights or money given the monopoly of a limited number of companies over the market, which is reflected in service quality and customer treatment.&#8221; She also pointed to growing concerns among some users regarding personal data protection, amid recurring incidents of phone fraud and phishing messages, questioning whether effective oversight of companies and customer data protection mechanisms exist.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%;\"><iframe id=\"zw-ei3\" style=\"border: none; display: block; width: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/agamalziada.github.io\/internet-egypt\/en-internet-chart3-company-profits.html\" width=\"100%\" height=\"50\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><script>!function(){var e=document.getElementById(\"zw-ei3\");window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(m){if(m.data&&m.data.type===\"chartResize\"&&m.source===e.contentWindow)e.style.height=m.data.height+\"px\";});}();<\/script><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Tariq Mamdouh<\/strong>, a resident of Faisal district in Giza Governorate, faced a complete fixed internet outage lasting more than 15 days following the initiation of a line transfer from copper cables to a fiber network. He explains that the company completed the transfer process and disconnected the copper line, but later informed him that there was no available capacity in the fiber box, causing the service to go completely offline without providing a temporary alternative.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">He told Zawia3: &#8220;The internet outage directly affected my daily life and my work as a graphic designer who depends entirely on the internet, as well as my master&#8217;s studies and reliance on electronic academic references.&#8221; He added that weak mobile network coverage in his residential area compounded the problem to the point where he was forced to place his phone in a specific spot inside his home to obtain a weak signal that allowed minimal internet use.<\/p>\n<blockquote dir=\"ltr\"><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1AFmBMxRET\/\">number<\/a> of internet users stands at 82.1 million, of whom 45.4 million use social media, with an annual average of 2.4 million, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/crowdanalyzer.com\/annual-report-25-ar\/\">Crowd Analyzer<\/a>. Mobile internet subscribers reached 90.64 million, while fixed broadband subscribers reached 12.18 million as of July 2025, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/sis.gov.eg\/ar\/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A\/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1\/%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%8540-%D9%86%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%A4%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%AF%D9%85%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%AA\/\">State Information Service<\/a>. Egypt&#8217;s score in the UN indicator for &#8220;population internet users&#8221; improved by 40 points over 10 years, without this necessarily reflecting on the quality of services for many users who complain of weak network coverage, slow internet speeds, and technical faults.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">According to the government, the average internet speed in Egypt has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shorouknews.com\/mobile\/news\/view.aspx?cdate=07022026&amp;id=d349d525-0fc3-4779-a94a-9283cb98534c\">multiplied<\/a> approximately 19 times since 2019, reaching 90 Mbps, thanks to investments worth $3.5 billion in fixed internet digital infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Recommended Reading:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/we\/\"><strong>&#8220;The Single Point of Failure&#8221;: How Telecom Egypt&#8217;s Monopoly Impedes Digital Transformation in Egypt<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<hr dir=\"ltr\" \/>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Parliamentary Rejection<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">The latest telecom and internet price hike decisions came despite broad parliamentary opposition. MP Ashraf Amin, a member of the House of Representatives, submitted a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parlmany.com\/News\/3\/604609\/%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A5%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%B6-%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%88%D9%84-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%AA\">parliamentary query<\/a> addressed to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Communications and Information Technology on May 5th, regarding the NTRA&#8217;s study of mobile companies&#8217; requests to raise the prices of recharge cards and internet packages, at a time when citizens are suffering from a clear deterioration in the quality of telecommunications and internet services.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simultaneously, MP Mai Rushdi submitted a <a href=\"https:\/\/zahrteltahrir.net\/458663\/%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A5%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A8-%D8%B4%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86\/\">parliamentary query<\/a> regarding citizens&#8217; complaints about fixed internet, mobile internet, and wireless internet packages being exhausted before their scheduled expiry, at a time when telecom companies are raising package prices beyond what citizens can afford given current harsh living conditions.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Dr. Yasser Al-Hudaibi, Deputy Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives, also submitted a <a href=\"https:\/\/akhbarelyom.com\/news\/newdetails\/4817209\/1\/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%A4%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AD%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%B6-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD\">directed question<\/a> to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Communications and Information Technology regarding the government&#8217;s contradictory policies between expanding digital transformation and financial inclusion on one hand and raising the cost of telecommunications services on the other.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.almasryalyoum.com\/news\/details\/4262998\">media statements<\/a> by MP Abeer Nassar, a member of the Communications and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives, neither the telecom companies nor the government had submitted any requests or proposals for price increases to the committee since the beginning of the current legislative term.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">In the same context, MP <strong>Maha Abd El-Nasser<\/strong>, Deputy Chairwoman of the Communications and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives, explains that companies justify the latest increases in telecom and internet service prices by rising operational, production, and labor costs \u2014 something understandable given that they are investment entities seeking profit. However, she stresses that these increases constitute an unfair burden on citizens that requires the state to intervene as an intermediary to balance company interests with user rights.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">She told Zawia3: &#8220;The internet is no longer an entertainment service \u2014 it has become an essential tool for education, remote work, digital transformation, and financial inclusion. That is why I called for government and educational platforms to be made available for free even after internet packages are exhausted. The government partially responded to this, but it is an insufficient step, because many other educational and practical services, including some private educational platforms, still consume from packages, and exempting them from consumption would ease the burden on users and allow packages to be used more for entertainment and gaming.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote dir=\"ltr\"><p>According to the Ministry of Communications, Egypt <a href=\"https:\/\/gate.ahram.org.eg\/News\/5321266.aspx\">added<\/a> approximately 60,000 new specialists to the digital labor market by the end of 2024, there are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dostor.org\/5352746\">more than 270<\/a> digital service centers across Egypt, and the number of workers in digital services exports and outsourcing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.almasryalyoum.com\/news\/details\/3082821\">reached<\/a> approximately 215,000 specialists in 2023, with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.almasryalyoum.com\/news\/details\/3082821\">target<\/a> of 400,000 specialists by 2025 and 550,000 by the end of 2026. There is no precise official statistic determining the number of students who rely on the internet daily in Egypt specifically, but with approximately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.almasryalyoum.com\/news\/details\/4193870\">25 million students<\/a> in pre-university and university education in Egypt, estimates suggest that the vast majority of students \u2014 particularly at the secondary and university levels \u2014 rely on the internet daily for studying, communication, and use of educational platforms.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Maha points out that companies and the government justify price increases by the need to finance new investments to improve services and build towers and strengthen infrastructure, but she considers that placing these burdens on citizens without a tangible improvement in service quality raises major questions.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">She criticizes the NTRA&#8217;s statements regarding the limited number of user complaints, affirming that citizens frequently complain about faults and poor service in many areas, and that the fixed internet crisis persists in areas not yet reached by fiber optic networks, while some areas also suffer from poor mobile network coverage. She confirms that users do not receive adequate compensation when calls are interrupted or internet services fail, considering that citizens&#8217; rights are still absent from the management of the telecommunications file. She also points to the absence of fairness in service quality between different areas, explaining that areas reached by fiber networks under the &#8220;Decent Life&#8221; project enjoy good speeds, while areas still relying on copper infrastructure continue to suffer from slow and poor service despite paying virtually the same amount.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Regarding online campaigns demanding unlimited internet, the MP notes that the government, the NTRA, and companies believe that its full implementation would require extremely high prices, making it currently unfeasible according to their assessments, adding that the issue requires further study, particularly given the growing reliance on the internet for education, work, and daily services.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">She reveals that she has not yet received official responses to the demands she submitted to the government regarding the price crisis, affirming that addressing the issue does not rest solely on the Ministry of Communications, but requires comprehensive government intervention. She has called for the abolition of value-added tax on internet services, as it is an essential service no less important than electricity and water.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%;\"><iframe id=\"zw-ei4\" style=\"border: none; display: block; width: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/agamalziada.github.io\/internet-egypt\/en-internet-chart4-internet-users.html\" width=\"100%\" height=\"50\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><script>!function(){var e=document.getElementById(\"zw-ei4\");window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(m){if(m.data&&m.data.type===\"chartResize\"&&m.source===e.contentWindow)e.style.height=m.data.height+\"px\";});}();<\/script><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">The telecommunications and information technology sector in Egypt is the fastest-growing sector, achieving a <a href=\"https:\/\/itida.gov.eg\/Arabic\/Programs\/Industry-Outlook\/Pages\/default.aspx\">growth rate<\/a> of 14.4% in fiscal year 2023\/2024, with a contribution of 5.8% to GDP, and a target of reaching 8% by 2030.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">The net profit of Telecom Egypt <a href=\"https:\/\/asharqbusiness.com\/financial-reports\/120863\/%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%81%D8%B2-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A6%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%B5%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%88%D9%86\/\">surged<\/a> 282% in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 5.6 billion Egyptian pounds ($107.69 million), supported by higher retail revenues and growth in the return on investment from Vodafone Egypt, in which it holds a 45% stake. Annual profit also rose 123% to 22.6 billion Egyptian pounds ($434.62 million), and revenues grew 31% to 106.6 billion Egyptian pounds ($2.05 billion).<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Telecom Egypt (WE) had achieved net <a href=\"https:\/\/m.youm7.com\/story\/2025\/3\/4\/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%82-%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AC-%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%82%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85-2024\/6904110\">profits<\/a> of 14.3 billion Egyptian pounds ($275 million) in 2024, a 22% growth compared to 2023, supported by a 48% increase in data services revenues and a rise in total revenues to 82 billion Egyptian pounds ($1.58 billion).<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Vodafone Egypt achieved, in the fiscal year ending March 2025, total <a href=\"https:\/\/almalnews.com\/2034439\/%C2%AB%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%C2%BB-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AC%D9%84-%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-82-9\/\">revenues<\/a> of approximately 82.8\u201382.9 billion Egyptian pounds ($1.59 billion), with operating profits reaching 27.6 billion Egyptian pounds ($530.77 million), a nearly 97% increase compared to the previous year, with its customer base surpassing 51 million subscribers.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Telecom Egypt holds a 45% stake in Vodafone Egypt, and its <a href=\"https:\/\/almalnews.com\/2100786\/%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AD-we-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%B5%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1\/\">profits<\/a> from that stake reached 14.7 billion Egyptian pounds ($282.69 million) during 2025, compared to 8.6 billion Egyptian pounds ($165.38 million) in 2024.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">As for e&amp; Egypt (formerly Etisalat), it <a href=\"https:\/\/techknowledge.news\/%D8%A5%D9%8A-%D8%A2%D9%86%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%82-%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%8B%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-15-24-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1\/\">announced<\/a> profits of approximately 15.24 billion Egyptian pounds ($293.08 million) during the first 9 months of 2025, with revenues of 43.7 billion Egyptian pounds ($840.38 million) and a customer base growing to more than 41 million subscribers.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Orange Egypt achieved <a href=\"https:\/\/capitalnewseg.com\/177402\/\">revenues<\/a> in 2024 of approximately 733 million euros (equivalent to around 36 billion Egyptian pounds ($692.31 million) at prevailing exchange rates at the time), a 39% increase over 2023, with its subscriber base reaching 31.58 million by the end of 2024.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Recommended Reading:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/digitization\/\"><strong>Victims of Digital Transformation: How Gaps in the Financial System Threaten Egyptians&#8217; Money<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<hr dir=\"ltr\" \/>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Monopoly and Lack of Transparency<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Dr. <strong>Wael Badawi<\/strong>, a member of the Research Council for Communications and Information Technology at the Academy of Scientific Research, considers that the recent increases in telecom and internet service prices can be partially understood in light of rising global operating costs \u2014 particularly with higher dollar prices, energy costs, and network equipment \u2014 but stresses that assessing the fairness of prices must be linked to service quality and citizens&#8217; average income. He notes that there are countries offering higher speeds and unlimited internet services at relatively lower costs compared to income, leading many users in Egypt to consider current prices high relative to the quality of service provided.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">He told Zawia3: &#8220;Telecom companies do face increasing operational burdens, including equipment imports, rising electricity and energy costs, and spending on infrastructure expansions, 5G networks, and fiber optics. But users expect, in return, a tangible improvement in speed, stability, and service quality, and consider that any price increases must directly reflect on performance levels.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote dir=\"ltr\"><p>He affirms that complaints about slow internet and weak telecom networks have become recurring and reflect a real crisis felt by users daily \u2014 whether in declining speeds, weak coverage, or rapid package exhaustion \u2014 noting that citizens are now demanding more stable and efficient service before any new increases are imposed, as service quality represents the foundation of user trust in the telecom sector. He also points out that the continued rise in internet service prices may partially conflict with the goals of digital transformation and financial inclusion, given that these policies depend on the availability of stable, accessible, and affordably priced internet for all segments of society.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">He adds: &#8220;The successive increases may place a burden on students, families, and middle-income earners, potentially affecting the spread of digital services and electronic payments,&#8221; explaining that the government announced free access to government platforms after packages are exhausted, while the mechanisms for applying this to some other services, including banking services, remain not fully clear.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">The member of the Communications Research Council considers that digital campaigns demanding unlimited internet in Egypt reflect a change in the nature of internet use, which has become a fundamental element in education, work, entertainment, and government services. He explains that many users consider the limited package system inadequate for current needs, while telecom companies argue that providing unlimited internet requires massive infrastructure investments, suggesting that the solution may lie in offering more flexible options combining unlimited internet with fair usage policies, alongside improving service quality.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Economic expert Dr. <strong>Khaled Al-Shafi&#8217;i<\/strong> considers that judging the recent increases in telecom and internet service prices is tied to the extent to which they are reflected in the quality of service provided to citizens, noting that the Ministry of Communications announced that the fee increases would be matched by better services and features for users \u2014 which requires, in his words, that &#8220;the citizen actually finds the service they need and that the announced promises are available and tangible on the ground.&#8221; He considers that the fulfillment of these promises would provide citizens with more efficient digital services to assist them in daily life and enhance their capacity to work and interact more professionally, but if this does not materialize, the companies will have maximized their profits at the citizen&#8217;s expense.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">He told Zawia3: &#8220;Digital transformation and financial inclusion require a comprehensive government vision for developing digital services, and it is necessary for the state to possess infrastructure capable of delivering remote education, digital health services, and various government services online effectively,&#8221; adding that a comprehensive database and integrated digital system would contribute to reducing costs and time and improving the efficiency of public services, in addition to supporting economic, service, media, and advertising sectors.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">He adds: &#8220;The internet has become a fundamental element in education, work, and government transactions, which necessitates improving network efficiency and connection speeds so that citizens can actually benefit from digital transformation plans,&#8221; noting that the success of the state&#8217;s digital plans depends on providing strong internet infrastructure across all governorates, villages, and hamlets, ensuring fair access to digital services for all citizens.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Commenting on the boycott campaigns launched by groups of users in protest against price increases, the economic expert says they represent &#8220;an opinion that must be respected,&#8221; as some citizens feel prices have become excessive, while others are forced to continue subscribing due to the nature of their work and total dependence on the internet. In turn, telecom companies must take the social dimension into account when pricing their services, and reassess whether current increases are fair, logical, and capable of achieving a balance between profitability and subscriber satisfaction.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">The economic expert stresses the importance of transparency in announcing the reasons for price increases, noting that the four companies dominating Egypt&#8217;s telecom market raise questions about the level of competitiveness in the market. The massive advertising campaigns that companies spend on also raise questions among users about spending priorities, and whether it would be better to direct a larger portion of these resources toward improving service quality and infrastructure, calling for enhanced competition, disclosure of business results and pricing mechanisms, and improved service levels.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%;\"><iframe id=\"zw-ei5\" style=\"border: none; display: block; width: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/agamalziada.github.io\/internet-egypt\/en-internet-chart5-we-profits.html\" width=\"100%\" height=\"50\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><script>!function(){var e=document.getElementById(\"zw-ei5\");window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(m){if(m.data&&m.data.type===\"chartResize\"&&m.source===e.contentWindow)e.style.height=m.data.height+\"px\";});}();<\/script><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote dir=\"ltr\"><p>Mohamed Hedaya Al-Haddad, Head of the Mobile Division at the Giza Chamber and a member of its board of directors, affirms that price increases in telecom and internet services should have been preceded by clear steps to improve the quality of services provided to citizens, considering that telecom companies raised prices for the second time before addressing problems of slow internet speeds, weak networks, and recurring service outages.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">He told Zawia3: &#8220;The timing of the increase is inappropriate, even with justifications relating to higher costs. Companies could have postponed the decision given the current economic pressures on citizens,&#8221; considering that the discussion should not focus solely on the size of companies&#8217; profits or losses, but on the relationship between service and price, and what the citizen actually receives in return for what they pay.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">He adds that &#8220;telecommunications and internet services are no longer entertainment services \u2014 they have become a strategic commodity that citizens depend on for work, education, and daily communication,&#8221; noting that the state&#8217;s direction toward digital transformation, remote work, and financial inclusion makes the internet an indispensable necessity, and that large segments of citizens have become heavily dependent on the internet for study and various services, making any price increase more sensitive for users.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Al-Haddad criticizes the intensive advertising campaigns of telecom companies, considering that these companies no longer need this volume of publicity given their market dominance, and that the priority for citizens must be improving service quality rather than increasing advertising spending, calling for improvements to telecom networks and service quality.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Engineer <strong>Ihab Saeed<\/strong>, Head of the Telecommunications and Electronic Payments Division and a member of the board of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, justifies the latest increases in telecom and internet service prices by the economic variables witnessed by the market in recent times \u2014 foremost among them the rise in the dollar exchange rate against the pound and higher costs for operations, energy, and imported technological equipment. This led the four companies operating in the market to call for price adjustments for some time to address rising costs, which increased further following the repercussions of the latest global war and the accompanying economic changes.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">He told Zawia3: &#8220;Telecom companies compete with each other \u2014 each company seeks to retain its customers and improve its service quality. The price increases came in coordination with the NTRA with the aim of enabling companies to continue developing networks and improving service,&#8221; considering that telecom service prices in Egypt are still reasonable compared to some global prices.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">He affirms that maintaining service quality periodically requires new investment injections that are directly affected by exchange rate fluctuations and operating costs, considering that technical faults are possible in any telecommunications system, but occur in specific areas and at specific times due to technical issues related to electricity or batteries or renovation and development works carried out in some areas, and that the repair duration varies according to the nature of the technical problem, whether simple or complex or linked to external factors.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">The Division Head explains that the technical departments within telecom companies are best placed to determine the timelines for expanding fiber optic networks, while implementing unlimited internet in Egypt may be possible in the future, but does not appear to be immediately on the table at present, given the nature of the market and infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">In an attempt to reassure consumers, the NTRA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1HzTwj14EH\/\">announced<\/a> the availability of a new fixed internet package priced at 150 Egyptian pounds ($2.88) instead of the current lowest package priced at 210 Egyptian pounds ($4.04), and a new mobile package priced at 5 Egyptian pounds ($0.10) instead of the current lowest package priced at approximately 13 Egyptian pounds ($0.25), with the aim of supporting digital inclusion, affirming that all government and educational websites will be made freely available on fixed internet networks and mobile phone networks even after packages are exhausted.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">The NTRA expected that the price adjustments would support the companies&#8217; plans to increase their investments directed at improving service quality and enhancing network efficiency, pledging to monitor companies&#8217; compliance with established quality levels and take the necessary regulatory measures to ensure the protection of user rights, achieve a balance between service quality and cost, and enhance the efficiency of the telecommunications sector and its capacity to support Egypt&#8217;s development and digital transformation plans.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Against the backdrop of the state&#8217;s moves toward accelerated digitization and the reliance of millions of Egyptians on the internet for education, work, and daily services, the repercussions of rising telecom prices are casting a shadow over consumers, alongside widespread complaints about weak networks and poor service quality relative to their prices. While companies and the government justify the increases by rising operational costs and infrastructure investment, users are demanding more stable, fair, and transparent services, and are linking any new burdens to a tangible improvement in connection quality and internet speeds. Between market pressures and consumer rights, the most prominent challenge facing the state remains achieving a genuine balance between supporting digital transformation plans and ensuring the availability of reliable, affordable telecommunications services for all social segments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Egypt&#8217;s telecom regulator approved internet and mobile price hikes of 9\u201315% in May 2026, as Telecom Egypt&#8217;s profits surged 282% to 5.6 billion Egyptian pounds ($107.69 million) in a single quarter \u2014 while 139,000 service complaints were filed in just six months and 82 million users report no tangible improvement in quality<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":15643,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[409],"tags":[15709,15707,15711,15708,15719,15700,15714,15705,15716,15718,15715,15703,15706,15717,15702,15712,15704,15701,15710,15713],"kateb":[1550],"class_list":["post-15650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economics-en","tag-5g-egypt","tag-digital-transformation-egypt","tag-e-egypt-profits","tag-egypt-broadband-complaints","tag-egypt-digital-inclusion","tag-egypt-internet-prices","tag-egypt-internet-speed","tag-egypt-mobile-data-costs","tag-egypt-telecom-monopoly","tag-fiber-optic-egypt","tag-internet-affordability-egypt","tag-internet-packages-egypt-2026","tag-internet-quality-egypt","tag-ntra-complaints","tag-ntra-price-increase","tag-orange-egypt","tag-telecom-egypt-profits","tag-telecom-price-hike-egypt","tag-vodafone-egypt-revenue","tag-we-telecom","kateb-aya-yasser"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/\u0633\u0631\u0639\u0629-\u0627\u0644\u0627\u0646\u062a\u0646\u0631\u062a.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15650","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15650"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15650\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15654,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15650\/revisions\/15654"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15650"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15650"},{"taxonomy":"kateb","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kateb?post=15650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}