The coronavirus pandemic prompted a rise in demand for broadband connection in almost every part of the world. The partnership between Telecom Egypt and Orange Jordan is aimed at meeting those growing demands in the MENA region. 

Telecom Egypt recently announced a partnership agreement with Orange Jordan to build a highly reliable terrestrial system called "Cairo Amman Baghdad (CAB) System." The system will connect Iraq to Europe through Jordan and Egypt territories, facilitating the provision of state-of-the-art telecommunications and connectivity solutions.

“The new CAB System will enrich user experience for the Iraqi market by serving it through a new, highly resilient, and completely diverse route,” indicated Adel Hamed (photo, left), managing director and chief executive officer of Telecom Egypt.

The new system will leverage Telecom Egypt's market position, international assets and facilities, as well as Orange Jordan's diversified infrastructure in Jordan to provide reliable, low-latency connectivity services to meet the growing demand for broadband connection in the Iraqi market.

The partnership is part of the two operators' strategy to expand their presence in Iraq (and in the Middle Eastern market as a whole). It comes in a particular context marked by the acceleration of digital transformation and strong demand for digital services.  

According to the GSMA, the number of unique mobile subscribers in the Middle East and North Africa region is expected to reach 456 million by 2026, representing a 68% penetration rate. At the same time, the revenues of telecom operators active in the region are expected to reach US$66.5 billion for US$37.3 billion capital investment.  

Isaac K. Kassouwi