Egyptian Telecom is close to selecting several international companies to create the country’s new wireless telephone network, which will include 1.5 million lines, according to the daily Al Ahram.
Company chairman Aqeel Bashir announced on Wednesday that the best bids would be chosen by September.
The five-year nationwide project will aim at coping with the public’s clamor to receive access to phone services without long waits for installation.
Bashir said his company would not finance the project, as the winning bidder would provide the financing and equipment, while also establishing the telephone exchanges, in exchange for a percentage of the revenues.
“The companies will link the Egyptian Telecom subscribers with the new network and provide maintenance services for the project equipment in exchange for a percentage of the revenues to be generated by local and international calls,” added Bashir
In a press conference, Bashir said that 11 companies out of 46 had qualified for the bids. He added that a number of changes had taken place in the company at the highest levels, including his deputies and district managers, for the purpose of raising the standard of the company’s performance – Albawaba.com
