Mobile network operators will be given their respective 4G spectra in “stages,” not in one go, CIT Minister Yasser El Kady told Al Mal. El Kady says the MNOs were never promised delivery of the spectra immediately after paying for them and that the roll out will be in stages depending on geographic locations. Coastal cities and the Sinai Peninsula will be covered last due to security concerns, he added.

…Etisalat Misr Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Khaled Hegazy says the operator has not been officially notified as to when it would be granted its 4G spectrum and says the CIT Ministry needs to explain how MNOs would be able to implement 4G if they do not get access to their entire spectrum bandwidth directly. For its part, Vodafone Egypt says its agreement with National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) allows it to begin rolling out some 4G services on its existing 3G spectrum. Orange Egypt also said it is only limiting its 4G trials in a limited number of areas.

Orange has also said it is unaware of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) referring it, along with Vodafone Egypt, to prosecution for allegedly misleading the public about the rollout of 4G. Orange Egypt says it is was only asked to send a representative to present documents related to its 4G rollout campaign. The prosecutor’s office only received yesterday the complaint lodged by the CPA, according to Al Shorouk.