(Ecofin Agency) - Telecom Egypt and Sudatel Group, the incumbent telecom operators of Egypt and Sudan, signed a cooperation agreement in the field of international connectivity on Wednesday 14 April. The two countries plan to make optimal use of the terrestrial optical fiber that connects them, develop the latest technologies to support the transport of international traffic, and link Sudatel Group's landing station (in Port Sudan) to Telecom Egypt's landing stations on the Red Sea.

According to Adel Hamed, Telecom Egypt's CEO, "the signing of the MoU with our brothers at Sudatel will allow us to exchange experiences and maximize the benefits of the current connection between Egypt and Sudan, and to work towards creating new opportunities for international connectivity via submarine cables with the aim of pushing towards digital transformation in Egypt and the region. ”

Telecom Egypt's investment with Sudatel Group is part of the Egyptian state-owned company's efforts to develop its broadband connectivity with neighboring countries and in the sub-region to become a reference operator. With the demand for broadband connectivity exploding across Africa, Telecom Egypt's ambition is to be an active part of the digital transformation on the continent.

Beyond providing connectivity in Africa, Telecom Egypt's investments in expanding its Internet capabilities, including the deployment of new telecom equipment and partnerships with other telecom groups, are aimed at securing maximum future revenues as data becomes a valuable commodity.

Muriel Edjo