CAIRO: Despite analysts' initial skepticism, Egypt's mobile users have been receptive to 3G services and the number of subscribers is actually on the rise, with Vodafone taking the lead at 800,000 subscribers. "We are very pleased to announce that the number of 3G subscribers has reached 800,000 users, and we will work on further increasing that figure, said Omar El-Sheikh, corporate affairs director at Vodafone. "That figure has so far beaten our expectations. One of the reasons behind such a quick market response is the fact that Vodafone customers who already owned 3G compatible phones were automatically given full access to 3G services starting from day one, without having to change or acquire new contracts. "So, naturally, these customers chose to upgrade to a better service, he added. Vodafone launched its 3G Broadband services on May 10 for two reasons. First: to offer users audio and video calling, mobile TV, and high-speed mobile internet access. Second: to gain additional spectrum and optimize use of its existing 2G and 2.5G networks. "3G allows us to expand the value of our spectrum, which is a major contribution to ensure that quality of both 2G and 3G services is good, El-Sheikh pointed out. The new technology with its new stations gives Vodafone additional frequency and network capacity that decrease traffic on its existing networks. "It would have been impossible to maintain our operations in Egypt without expanding our spectrum. In some areas in Cairo, network traffic is much denser than those in London or Paris, he stated. "The question was how to provide users with good quality services without continuous voice breakage. It is through expansion of our network capacity via 3G stations. The catch is to emphasize better quality and coverage rather than cheaper prices. "Prices are not everything anymore. If the voice is breaking up during a call, consumers will seek better quality even if it means higher prices, he said. "Our main objective is not to be called the cheapest but the best in terms of quality. El-Sheikh sees huge potential for 3G services in Egypt and believes they will generate a good return on investment, enough to sustain the service. "3G services are in demand in Egypt. And in light of recent economic developments, 3G services are imperative to many consumers in Egypt.
