The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) is considering delivering 4G spectra to “the three” mobile network operators (MNOs) in succession, “with short periods of time in between,” a source told Al Mal. The source did not mention how or when Telecom Egypt (TE) will be given its own spectrum. The three MNOs operating locally, along with state-owned landline monopolist TE, bought the rights to provide 4G services last year. A source said Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, and Etisalat Misr have not been given an official timeline on the freeing up of the spectra. The CIT Ministry had said it will provide MNOs with 4G spectrum in April, following up on remarks earlier in the year by CIT Minister Yasser El Kady that the spectrum will be freed up in stages and not in one go. A CIT Ministry source says there is no delay and that the spectra are being cleared according to a pre-set timeline with NTRA. Delays in receiving each of the MNOs’ allotted spectrum are behind TE’s failure to reach a domestic roaming agreement with the MNOs, Al Mal speculates.