RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE S/NGBT/W/3/Add.22
24February 1995
ORGANIZATION(95-0398)
Original: English Negotiating Group onBasic Telecommunications
COMMUNICATION FROM EGYPT
Response toQuestionnaire onBasic Telecommunications
Theattached communication iscirculated attherequest ofEgypt toMembers oftheNegotiating
Group onBasic Telecommunications.S/NGBT/W/3/Add.22
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PartI
Definition andMarket Structure
Definition
1. IntheEgyptian context, Basic Telecommunications maybeinterpreted asfollows:
- Public Telecommunications network usedtoprovide Telephone, Telex, Telegraph and
Datatransmission Services
- Leased circuits forprivate use
- Theabove mentioned Telecommunications ViaSatellite Services.
2. Telecommunications networks andservices arementioned asseparate responsibilities ofthe
telecommunications authority.
3. No.
Market Structure
4. Allbasic telecommunications sectors andsubsectors arereserved fortheNational
Telecommunications Organization (ARENTO) which istheexclusive supplier.
5. ARENTOwhollygovernment-ownedorganizationistheexclusiveTelecommunicationssupplier
alloverEgypt.
6. Foreign equity participation orownership ofARENTO isnotpermitted.
7.(a) AllbasicTelecommunications activities orcategories arereserved forARENTO theexclusive
supplier.
(b) No.
PART II
Competition
A. Sub-sectors
ARENTO istheexclusive supplier forbasic Telecommunications subsectors mentioned.
B. Categories
1,2. ARENTO istheexclusive supplier forlocal longdistance international telecommunications
wirebased andradio based inEgypt.
However thereareprivate networks forsome ministries andoilcompanies under radio licences
fortheirownprivate uselinking isolated siteswith headquarters.
Resale basis
3. Resale ofprivate leased capacity isnotpermitted.S/NGBT/W/3/Add.22
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4. Resale ofexcess capacity ofprivate leased circuits isnotpermitted.
Facilities -based
5. ARENTOisauthorizedtoconstructandoperatebasictelecommunicationnetworksinfrastructure.
Public/non-public supply
6. ARENTOistheexclusivesupplierforpublictelecommunications.Howeversomeoilcompanies
andauthorities arepermitted toconstruct andoperate theirownprivate non-public networks fortheir
ownuse.
7. Allbasic telecommunications aremade available tothepublic.
8. See7.above
9. Responsibilities forARENTO toconstruct operate andmaintain telecommunications network
inEgypt.
10. See6.above.
PART III
Regulatory Issues
Relationship between regulatory andoperational functions
1. ARENTOisthesoletelecommunicationsauthorityinEgyptandisinvolvedinmakingregulatory
policy, enforcement ofregulations andformulating standards.
2. Yes,ARENTO isresponsible forformulating standards.
3. ARENTO asthetelecommunication authority isthemainregulatory body. Regulations issued
should beapproved byH.E. Minister ofTransport andcommunications Ministerial decrees issued by
Minister ofTransport andcommunications isahigher levelofregulations.
(Astudy isongoing toformatelecommunications regulatory bodyseparate fromARENTO)
Frequency allotment orassignment
4. Applicationforuseoffrequency,tobesubmittedtothefrequencyallocationcommittee.Licences
aregrantedforsitesoutofARENTO'stelecommunicationsnetworksandofindustrialorbusinessnature.
5. ARENTO isthesoletelecommunication supplier.
Numbering andidentification codes
6. ARENTO thetelecommunications authority andsupplier manage both assignments and
identifications according toitsrequirements.
7. ARENTO istheexclusive supplier.S/NGBT/W/3/Add.22
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Standards, typeapproval andequipment attachment
8. ITUstandards.
9. When developing standards review andcomments oftheindustry business andscientific
representatives areconsidered bythestandard authority.
10. Terminal equipment aresubject totypeapproval. Self-certification isnotallowed. Nomutual
recognition agreements fortelecommunications equipment hasbeenconcluded.
11. Type approval forequipment tobeattached tothenetwork isrequired,
12. ARENTO issoletelecommunications supplier inEgypt.
13. See12.above.
Interconnection
14,15. See12.above.
16. Interconnection between leased circuits andpublic networks isnotpermitted.
17. See12.above.
Competitive safeguards
18-21. Notapplicable.
Pricing -related measures
22. ARENTO proposes thetariffs which should beapproved bytheministerial council andissued
inaministerial decree byMinister oftransport andcommunications. Tariffs aredetermined oncost-
oriented basis withemphasis oneconomic conditions andsocial considerations.
23. See22.above.
24. Non-discrimination principle isobserved inapplying pricing policy. Accounting ratesaredealt
withonabilateral agreements.
25. Notapplicable, ARENTO issolesupplier andinvolved insetting tariffs.
26. See22above.
27. Tariffs aredetermined oncost-oriented basis.
Right ofwayfortheconstruction ofinfrastructure
28. ARENTO,thesoletelecommunicationsauthorityhastherighttobuilditsfacilities.ForARENTO
nolimitations.
29. See28.above.S/NGBT/W/3/Add.22
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Newtelecommunications services
30. Newtelecommunication services should beagreed uponbyARENTO andapproved byH.E.
Minister oftransport andcommunications.
31. ARENTO determines thestatus ofnewservices.