The private sector firms which participated in 'broadband strategy' have provided their proposals for implementing the strategy which expected to be offered within this month. Senior sources in mobile phone operators said it has finalized yesterday from sending their recommendations and proposals regarding the broadband strategy, pointing out that it will hold meetings with the ICT Minister, and the officials of National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA) in order to start Phase I high-speed internet starting from mid-September worth EGP 250 million. Dr.Amr Badawi, the previous CEO of NTRA, has asserted that the financing of Phase I broadband will depend entirely on the Universal Service Fund (USF), noting that USF's capital is more than EGP half a billion. Eng. Atef Helmy , the ICT Minister , said the national project of high-speed internet 'broadband' will be launched in coordination with NTRA worth EGP 250 million as a first phase. The Minister added that the Ministry is aiming to begin projects in high-speed internet 'broadband' with EGP 16.8 billion investments as a first phase. Helmy has affirmed that 10% prevalent of broadband services reflected on the Gross National Product (GNP) ranging between 1.2-1.5 %. It is expected for The broadband strategy to pump EGP 14.4 billion investments as a first phase, pointing out that the governmental contributions for spreading the service represents 20%, and the private sectors will bear the rest. Moreover, it is expected for the strategy to achieve from 7-18 thousand annually direct job opportunities, in addition indirect job opportunities in other sectors. The strategy affirmed that ICT Sector will contribute with EGP 24.9 billion over the coming four years and until 2015.
