Egyptians move away from fixed line to mobile Internet services

Egyptians are increasingly abandoning fixed lines for mobile phones when expanding their use of the Internet, despite weak available services.

Egypt's fixed line subscribers declined 21.3 percent in March compared to the same period the prior year, falling to to 6.7 million when they registered 8.6 million in 2013, revealed the Egyptian cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC).

Meanwhile, mobile subscribers increased 8.2 percent to 102 million, while Internet users surged 26.4 percent to 42 million.

According to the Internet World Stats December 2011 statistics, Egypt is ranked the second biggest internet user in Africa at 21.7 million internet users, preceded by Nigeria at 45 million. The website shows that African internet users represent nearly six per cent of world users, at 140 million.

State-run fixed line monopoly Telecom Egypt (TE) has been seeking a license to enter the mobile market, which it was granted earlier this year. But the telecoms company would have to sell its 45 percent stake in mobile operator Vodafone Egypt.

The company reported a first quarter net profit after taxes of LE549 million ($76.8 million), down 36 percent from the previous year's first quarter figure of LE858 million ($120 million).