Egypt threatens mobile phone operators on Ramadan specials
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
CAIRO, Sept 8 (AFP): Egypt is threatening to punish mobile phone operators with a freeze on new customer lines if they keep prices lower after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, newspapers reported today.
Main operators Mobinil and Vodafone Egypt have offered customers phone calls as cheap as five piasters (one cent) a minute during Ramadan, which ends by September 20.
Vodafone and Etisalat Egypt have also slashed roaming fees to about nine cents a minute for subscribers receiving calls from Egypt while on pilgrimage to Islam's holiest places in Saudi Arabia.
Communication and Information Technology Minister Tareq Kamel said the offers were harming government's landline operator Telecom Egypt.
About 45 million Egyptians from an 80-million population have mobile phone subscriptions.
Main operators Mobinil and Vodafone Egypt have offered customers phone calls as cheap as five piasters (one cent) a minute during Ramadan, which ends by September 20.
Vodafone and Etisalat Egypt have also slashed roaming fees to about nine cents a minute for subscribers receiving calls from Egypt while on pilgrimage to Islam's holiest places in Saudi Arabia.
Communication and Information Technology Minister Tareq Kamel said the offers were harming government's landline operator Telecom Egypt.
About 45 million Egyptians from an 80-million population have mobile phone subscriptions.