Egypt

Basics

Egypt has the biggest mobile phone market in Africa with 4 network providers:

• Vodafone Egypt
• Orange (formerly: Mobinil)
• Etisalat
• WE (by Telecom Egypt)

The three first providers have a similar footprint and 2G and 3G in the populated areas. Orange, once called Mobinil used to be market leader, but lost this position in recent years to Vodafone. Etisalat is the newest arrival, but almost on par in coverage now. So speed and coverage depend heavily on your local position to the closest antenna.

• 2G is on 900 MHz (and 1800 Mhz on Etisalat only), 3G up to HSPA+ speed on 2100 MHz.

In 2016 landline operator Telecom Egypt became the first operator to acquire a 4G/LTE concession. They've launched in September 2017 offering 2G, 3G and 4G services via Orange Egypt with whom they inked a roaming deal in 2017 for the next years. The other providers also received licenses for 4G/LTE.

For 4G/LTE licences are given out on the rather unusual 900 MHz (B8) and 2100 MHz (B1) bands. These same bands are used for 2G and 3G too, what has affected the 2G/3G service. After some delays 4G/LTE services are finally starting on all providers in autumn 2017.

For buying a prepaid SIM card, you have to visit one of the shops of the providers, show your passport and give them a local address (like your hotel address).

VoIP block

In 2015 operators confirmed reports that the national regulator NTRA had blocked VoIP services on all mobile networks, although this was denied by the regulator. It's technically prohibited to make international calls from mobile networks under Article 72 of the Telecommunications Law, which forbids the “by-passing [of] international telephone calls by any means whatsoever.”

The blocking of VoIP makes international calls from Egypt very expensive. For now, all mobile operators, but not all landline/ADSL providers block VoIP. That's why there might be still a chance to use it on a WiFi, or elsewhere through a VPN tunnel.

Stamp Tax

The Egyptian Stamp Tax is a tax collected for the Egyptian Tax Authority by the providers. It's set at EGP 6.10 annually and imposed on every subscriber. From 2012 every mobile user has to pay this tax. It's divided by 12 months and EGP 0.51 charged monthly on every local prepaid account too.

Vodafone Egypt

Vodafone Egypt, half owned by Telecom Egypt, has become the biggest provider in Egypt with a 44% share of the market. It overtook Mobinil (now branded Orange) in 2011 and offers a good coverage at pretty high rates. For 4G/LTE Vodafone only acquired spectrum on the rather unusual 2100 MHz frequency and started in September 2017.

Voice and data plan

Vodafone in Egypt has a broad variety of different voice prepaid SIM cards called el-kart with various start-up prices, validities and voice and text rates. They are called Worry free, 14 Piasters, Maret 10 pt and per Second. Sales price is LE 20-25 with some credits. Not all brands may be on offer in every store (locator). No data is included in any starter pack, so for data it doesn't matter which plan to choose. A Stamp Tax of LE 0.51 per month applies to every plan

You can top-up by scratch cards sold in 7,000 outlets throughout the country or using a credit card online on your profile.

Tourist SIM

Tourists may prefer their "Holiday SIM" which is sold for fixed LE 20 including LE 5 credit pre-loaded in their stores. They have a validity of 40 days. Top-ups don't prolong this, you have to buy a pricey validity extension. Data is by default at LE 1 per MB on the tourist SIM. You can add the same packages as below. This plan is only recommended when you buy packages and stay for less than 40 days.

Data feature packs

Default rate outside of bundles is LE 0.25 per MB on most local SIM cards. Vodafone offers the following monthly data packages as add-ons to all of their prepaid lines:

Price	Data Volume	Time	Activation
LE 0.75	10 MB	1 hour	*2000*01#
LE 1.50	30 MB	3 hours	*2000*03#
LE 2.50	60 MB	6 hours	*2000*06#
LE 2	50 MB	7 days	*2000*72#
LE 3	100 MB		*2000*73#
LE 7	350 MB		*2000*77#
LE 5	150 MB	28 days	*2000*5#
LE 10	500 MB		*2000*10#
LE 20	1.1 GB		*2000*20#
LE 30	1.8 GB		*2000*30#
LE 40	2.5 GB		*2000*40#
LE 60	4 GB		*2000*60#
LE 80	6 GB		*2000*80#
LE 100	8 GB		*2000*100#
LE 150	12 GB		*2000*150#
LE 250	20 GB		*2000*250#
LE 400	40 GB		*2000*400#

Activation is online or by calling *2000#. After consuming the bundle quota, your internet access will be blocked. To add more data on monthly bunfles, you can choose between the different add-ons or paying the default rate.

• LE 5: 150 MB, activation: *2000*105#
• LE 20: 500 MB, activation: *2000*1020#
• LE 10: no cut-off, but throttled to 32 kbps

For activation dial *2000# or logon your account.

More information

• APN: internet.vodafone.net
• Password and Username: internet

• Vodafone Egypt website in English: http://www.vodafone.com.eg/vodafoneportalWeb/en/myWorld_mainPage

Orange (formerly: Mobinil)

Orange used to be the biggest mobile provider in Egypt when it was called Mobinil. In 2016 they were rebranded to the Orange label. All stores and products are now called Orange. They compete with Vodafone, but are at no.2 position with 33% of customers and a good coverage in the country. 4G/LTE has started in September 2017 on 900 and 2100 MHz and is already marketed.

Availability

Their prepaid card is sold in their stores (Store locator) for up to EGP 30. If you don't top-up within a month, your SIM will be terminated and you lose your credit. They have different prepaid lines: "per second" is without a base rate, 'Netwawy' has 50 MB per day included for EGP 1.50 or 400 MB per week for EGP 7. A Stamp Tax of LE 0.51 per month applies to every plan.

Data feature packs

All customers are on “Pay as you consume” by default. You will be granted 12 MB for LE 1.5/ day; after which you will be charged around LE 0.50-0.25 per MB depending on plan. These Packages are available: 

Name	Validity	Data	Price
Online 1	24 hrs	25 MB	LE 1
Online 7.5	30 days	200 MB	LE 7.50
Online 15		600 MB	LE 15
Online 30		1.5 GB	LE 30
Online 45		2.5 GB	LE 45
Online 60		3.5 GB	LE 60
Onlime 75		5 GB	LE 75
Online 100		8 GB	LE 100
Online 150		12 GB	LE 150
Online 250		20 GB	LE 250
Online 400		40 GB	LE 400
Online 150	1 year	500 MB/mo.	LE 150

You can activate through your Orange account online or from your phone: dial #100#, select "Internet & BlackBerry", select "Internet Packages", select "subscribe", select the Internet package that suits you best . You will receive a notification SMS to confirm your subscription to your preferred package. Or by calling 110 customer service. All packages automatically renew.

After finishing the inclusive data of your package, you can choose what happens next:

• renew your package with the same price and same data volume

• purchase a package extension (each add-ons only available for original pack sizes equal or above).
• continue on the pay as you consume charging EGP 0.25-0.50/MB .

You can unsubscribe from any online package by following the same subscription steps, choose "unsubscribe" instead of "subscribe". You can change between different packages at any time by unsubscribing from the current package and subscribing to the new preferred package and the new package will be added instantly. Orange WiFi is available at these locations: list.

For an extra EGP 10 you can transform a current internet package to "unlimited". After you finish your package inclusive volume, you will still get data at a reduced speed of 64 kbps without extra cost. Activation is made online.

Social Media packages

For social media users Orange has introduced special social media focussed packages called GO:

General Data	Social Media	Time	Price
50 MB	100 MB	24 hours	LE 2
250 MB	500 MB	30 days	LE 10
750 MB	750 MB		LE 20
1.25 GB	1 GB		LE 30
3 GB	1 GB		LE 50
8 GB	2 GB		LE 100

Social networks include Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. The monthly packages are auto-renewed, the daily is not. Unused data will be carried over to be used in the next month in case the Go package is renewed on time. Overuse fees are LE 1 per 50 MB. To activate dial #100#.

More information

• APN: mobinilweb

• Website in English: https://www.orange.eg/en/

Etisalat

Etisalat is the smallest of the three providers with a market share of 22%. It gives good coverage in some places, but has gaps and slow speeds in others. They combine their own hotspots in their products. You can call *233 for the nearest hotspots. Etisalat is said to have the lowest coverage, but are the only provider that publish+es a 2G/3G coverage map. LTE is about to be launched in autumn 2017 on 900 and 2100 MHz.

Ahlan

Etisalat has a variety of prepaid cards and start up packages. The starter pack is LE 20 with LE 10 credit preloaded in their stores (store locator). Their prepaid tariff lines are called Ahlan that come in different varieties. They are sold in their stores (locator) together with recharge cards. A Stamp Tax of LE 0.51 per month applies to every plan.

Data feature packages

The default data rate is at LE 0.50 per MB on all of their prepaid products. These monthly packs for 28 days can be activated on the SIM:  

Package	Data	Social Media	Price	Activation
Connect 10	350 MB	350 MB	LE 10	*22*10*2#
Connect 20	750 MB	750 MB	LE 20	*22*20"2#
Connect 35	1.5 GB	1.5 GB	LE 35	*22*35*2#
Connect 65	3.25 GB	3.25 GB	LE 65	*22*65*2#
Connect 130	10 GB		LE 60	*22*130*3#
Connect 200	16 GB		LE 100	*22*200*3#
Connect 300	25 GB		LE 300	*22*300*3#

Social media is all consumption Through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and WhatApp. Overuse is charged with LE 0.15 per MB. To subscribe call *22# for free. All packages auto-renew, if there is enough credit. To unsubscribe type *566#. For overuse you can buy the same package again or an add-on for the same price or surf at the default rate.

For social media they sell a Super Social Unlimited package at LE 15 with 1 GB for Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Snapchat & Instagram and 100 MB for other websites. Activation by *566*15#.

Data-only plan

Their data-only plan is called Mongez Prepaid and for tablets, routers and modems. The following bundles are available:

Price	Data	WiFi	Validity	Activation
LE 30	1.5 GB	0.5 GB	1 month	131
LE 45	2,5 GB	0.5 GB	1 month	753
LE 60	3.5 GB	1.5 GB	3 months	132
LE 100	8 GB	4 GB	3 months	133
LE 150	14 GB	4 GB	3 months	134
LE 250	25 GB	7 GB	3 months	137
LE 400	45 GB	7 GB	3 months	754

Activation is by *130# or texting '1' to the number in the table. WiFi volume applies only to Etisalat hotspots. Dial *223# to find the nearest hotspot. Bundles will renew automatically in case of sufficient balance. To inquire about your usage and renewal date send an empty SMS to 555 or dial *130# for free. In case of full bundle consumption; you will have the choice to renew your bundle, purchase an extra add-on or be charged per LE 0.25 per MB.

More information

• APN: etisalat

• Website in English: http://www.etisalat.eg

WE by Telecom Egypt

Telecom Egypt is the state-owned landline monopolist with more than 6 million customers. In 2016 it acquired a LTE license and the network has been started in autumn 2017. They provide 4G/LTE at first "experiminentally" on Bands 1 and 8 (900, 2100 MHz). 2G and 3G coverage is done through roaming agreements with Orange and Etisalat. The country’s long-awaited 4th mobile network is branded as WE.

Availability

The prepaid cards for the 4th mobile network have been available for distribution since 2017. The high-speed 4G service is set to be officially activated for all 4 mobile services by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority within weeks.

Data feature packages

Data	Validity	Price	Activation
50 MB	1 days	LE 1	*999*01#
1 GB	30 days	LE 10	*999*10#
2.5 GB	30 days	LE 20	*999*20#
6 GB	30 days	LE 40	*999*40#
18 GB	30 days	LE 100	*999*100#
40 GB	30 days	LE 200	*999*200#

Customers will also be able to buy bundles with interchangeable domestic minutes, SMS and MB. LE 20 buys 1,600 units and LE 40 4,000 units while one unit is either one minute, SMS or MB.

More information

• APN: internet.te.eg
• Website: http://www.te.eg/wps/portal/te/Personal

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/telecomgypt015