(Ecofin Agency) - The Egyptian ICT Minister, Amr Talaat (photo), inaugurated last week the country’s new National ICT Monitoring Center.
The center is affiliated with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and based in the Smart Village. With this new development, the Egyptian government is confirming its ambition to improve the quality of telecommunications and Internet services provided to citizens. The government says it will take all necessary proactive measures to encourage telecom companies to maintain a high level of performance.
The National ICT Service Monitoring Center will periodically measure the quality of voice and Internet services provided by telecommunications companies operating in Egypt. Services will be measured in 94 areas, 70 main roads and 25 public gathering spaces nationwide, such as shopping malls and high-density government institutions.
Data collected by the Center will be made available to the public through the monthly reports published on the NTRA website (www.tra.gov.eg). This action will keep consumers informed about the performance of telecommunications companies, making it easier for them to choose the network to subscribe to according to their needs.
According to Minister Amr Talaat, the Center’s construction required a financial investment of EGP50 million. In addition, NTRA has partnered with the German company Rohde and Schwarz, which specializes in testing and measuring ICT services, to acquire the expertise needed to use the modern machines. The first report measuring the quality of ICT services will be released on September 1, the official said.