Telecoms are not happy about the government-imposed fee hike on phone lines

Mobile network operators are not too pleased that the government passed a bill imposing extra fees on mobile lines, according to Al Masry Al Youm. The move will adversely impact sales of new phone lines, said Orange Egypt VP Ashraf Halim. Sales are already hurting since the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) forced MNOs to sell new phone lines only through their own distribution channels, he added. MNOs will be meeting with the NTRA to discuss how to implement the new fees. Buying a new line will cost consumers EGP 70, up from EGP 20 previously, while those with a monthly payment plan will see a EGP 10 monthly increase across the board.