Schneider Electric Expands Youth Partnership with Enactus to Drive Inclusive Energy Transition in Egypt    China's Jiangsu Zhengyong to build $85m factory in Egypt's Ain Sokhna: SCZONE    Egyptian pound ticks up vs. US dollar at Thursday's close    Egypt condemns Israeli plan to build 3,400 settler homes in West Bank    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Egypt, China ink $1bn agreement for Sailun tire plant in SCZONE    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egypt's Electricity Minister discusses progress on Greece power link    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, bilateral ties in calls with Saudi, South African counterparts    Egypt prepares to tackle seasonal air pollution in Nile Delta    27 Western countries issue joint call for unimpeded aid access to Gaza    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Colombia discuss medical support for Palestinians injured in Gaza    Australia to recognise Palestinian state in September, New Zealand to decide    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Global matcha market to surpass $7bn by 2030: Nutrition expert    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt, Uganda strengthen water cooperation, address Nile governance    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Korean Cultural Centre in Cairo launches folk painting workshop    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Egypt cellular carriers condemn new tax-per-minute proposition
Published in Daily News Egypt on 20 - 09 - 2012


By Hend El-Behary
A wave of condemnation from Egypt's main cellular carriers Mobinil, Vodafone and Etislat followed Finance Minister Momtaz El-Saeed's unexpected suggestion to impose per minute taxes on mobile phone calls last Monday.
El-Saeed declared the ministry is studying the feasibility of a one piastre per minute fee on every mobile phone call as a way of boosting state resources.
“Given the current mobile market situation, with mobile minute rates perhaps the lowest in the world, any new tax on minute rates would end up being paid by customers, particularly at a time where operators like Mobinil continue to make significant investments in their networks and infrastructure," Mobinil's CEO Yves Gautier told Daily News Egypt.
Zyad Mourad, a Mobinil public relations executive, said it will be technically difficult to apply taxes on mobile phone calls, especially since a great stratum of customers depend on a “package" system, which gives the customer a bundle of minutes in a subscription.
“Neither the customer nor the company can bear any taxes, especially since the company offers nearly the lowest cost per minute in order to remain competitive against other carriers," Mourad said.
Etislat's media relations officer Ahmed Kamal said customers wouldn't accept those taxes, especially after their unanimous anger following the introduction of the 51 piastre tax deducted monthly from their credit balance.
The government imposed this tax in March, as a monthly stamp tax on cellular users.
“Taxes should be authorised by the state'slegislative authority, and it will be very complicated to apply it on free usage calls, meanwhile customers might ask for more free minutes to compensate taxes loss," Kamal added.


Clic here to read the story from its source.