Page 111 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Egypt

Egypt is rapidly advancing in the digital sector, now ranked as the plans, and can be easily activated directly through phone settings.
top African country in fixed internet speed. This achievement is (January 21, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com
a result of the government’s ongoing digital transformation and
infrastructure development, according to Abdel Wahab Ghoneim, Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information
Vice Chairman of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy. Technology, presented the country’s Digital Strategy vision during
Ghoneim highlighted the broader influence of digitalisation on a visit to the Creativa Innovation Hub in Giza, led by Prime Minister
the global economy, noting that the worldwide digital economy Mostafa Madbouly. Talaat highlighted the Ministry’s initiative to
has reached a value of $55 trillion. He emphasized Egypt’s role establish Digital Egypt Innovation Hubs across all governorates,
in this shift, citing the country’s significant progress in improving emphasizing their critical role in advancing the digital strategy.
internet connectivity, which solidifies its position as a leader in These hubs will offer programs in collaboration with the private
Africa’s digital landscape, as reported by Sada El-Balad, a partner sector, focusing on digital skills training, promoting freelance
of TV BRICS. The country is also seeing growth in outsourcing work, and fostering technological innovation. Talaat noted that
and digital service exports, with approximately 55 digital service the number of innovation hubs has grown from three in 2016
companies now operating in Egypt. This growth aligns with to 20 in 2023, with a target of 27 hubs by 2025. The Digital
global trends shaped by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is Strategy centers on three key pillars: empowering citizens
transforming industries worldwide. Egypt’s focus on developing to secure digital economy jobs, promoting entrepreneurship
human capital is another key element in its digital expansion. and innovation, and simplifying access to digital government
Ghoneim noted that 200,000 young professionals have been services. Talaat underscored the importance of an efficient digital
trained in artificial intelligence and digital technologies. The infrastructure, regulatory frameworks to attract both local and
country remains committed to equipping its workforce with the foreign investments, and partnerships with the private sector and
skills necessary to drive digital transformation and enhance its civil society as key enablers of this vision. He also explained the
economic competitiveness. (February 10, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com criteria for selecting hub locations, which include ample space
for activities, centrality within the governorate, and proximity to
Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, major universities. Talaat presented ongoing efforts to repurpose
Amr Talaat, has officially announced the launch of Wi-Fi Calling. historical buildings into Digital Egypt Innovation Hubs, such as one
This new service enables citizens to make and receive mobile in Giza, which will preserve the architectural design of the structure.
calls using fixed internet networks, offering improved call quality, Other hubs with historical significance include the Sultan Hussein
particularly in areas with poor mobile network coverage or in Kamel Palace hub in Cairo. Talaat also spoke about the ministry’s
locations with technical challenges. Developed over the course of a efforts to nurture technological innovation within the hubs,
year in partnership with the National Telecom Regulatory Authority including partnerships with the German Development Agency for
(NTRA) and Egypt’s four major telecom providers—Vodafone a Government Innovation Lab and collaboration with South Korea
Egypt, Telecom Egypt, Orange Egypt, and Etisalat Egypt—Wi-Fi for startup incubation and electronic design labs. Talaat affirmed
Calling ensures high-quality voice calls in difficult environments that Egypt consistently ranks among the top three countries in
like high-rise buildings and indoor spaces. This service is part of a the region for entrepreneurship and technological innovation.
larger effort to improve telecom services across Egypt, including Since their establishment, the innovation hubs have supported
the construction of over 3,000 mobile towers in 2024 and the approximately 1,000 startups and trained over 100,000 individuals
expansion of full mobile coverage to highways and rural villages in technological and freelance work skills. In 2024, around 20,000
by mid-2025, under the “Hayah Karima” initiative. Wi-Fi Calling is individuals utilized the hubs’ coworking spaces.
available at no extra charge, functioning under existing mobile (January 14, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com

Iraq

The Ministry of Communications announced the signing of an and bring modern technology…It will create jobs for Iraqi youth
agreement with global telecom giant Vodafone to launch a fully and enhance their network management skills,” Communications
government-owned 5G network. Vodafone is one of the leading Minister Hayam Al-Yasiri stated. Peter Dvorak, Vodafone's CEO
telecommunications companies in Europe and Africa, serving over for Partner Markets, said the initiative would boost Iraq's social
330 million customers across 15 countries. “The project seeks to and economic development, emphasizing “the company's global
improve telecom services, lower costs, increase state revenues, expertise and dedication to training young Iraqi talents.” The

111 JAN-FEB 2025