Orange committed to new investments, TE talks with VFE take a “positive turn”: Talks on a pact that could see Telecom Egypt rent network infrastructure from Vodafone Egypt have taken a “positive turn,” Al Shorouk quotes unnamed TE official as saying. The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) had given TE two months, starting in September, to negotiate infrastructure-sharing agreements with the three existing mobile network operators. The authority said it would impose “market rates” if no agreements were reached. The MNOs have to invest around USD 1-1.5 bn each to offer 4G services, while TE has to come up with c. USD 3 bn to set up a network from scratch, but would rent infrastructure from the existing players in the meantime.

The NTRA is requiring TE sign an interconnection agreement with Etisalat Egypt before it can offer mobile services, Al Borsa reported. The agreement, similar to the agreements signed by Orange and Vodafone, determines shares in revenue from fixed line to mobile phone calls, an official at the NTRA said.

Orange are committed to increasing investments in Egypt, Orange MEA CEO Bruno Mettling said in a meeting with CIT Minister Yasser El Kady and Orange Egypt CEO Jean Marc Harion, Al Masry Al Youm reported. Egypt represents 25% of Orange’s Middle East and Africa activity, he added.