Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has unveiled a national broadband plan worth $2.4bn for the country.

The implementation phase is set to begin in the second quarter of 2012. It is expected to be completed by 2015 and will be funded by public and private investment.

The NTRA is aiming to provide fixed broadband of at least 2 Megabits per second (Mbps) for 90 per cent of the population by 2012 and at least 25 Mbps for 75 per cent of the population by 2015.

Broadband penetration is expected to rise to 22 per cent by 2015, then 40 per cent by 2021.

The plan also expects third-generation (3G) mobile coverage to reach 90 per cent of the population by 2015. 

The NTRA and Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) are both keen to get Egypt’s information and communications technology (ICT) plan back on track following the revolution. According to studies, a rise in broadband penetration directly contributes to gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

“Our plan and strategy is to get more aspirational and aggressive. We are investing more to build the talent pool and to attract multinationals, foreign direct investment (FDI), job opportunities and creating local demands to help local companies,” says Yesser Elkady, chief executive officer of ITIDA.