EGYPT Law and Practice Contributed by: Ibrahim Shehata, Hesham Kamel, Hana ElBarbary and Dima Mazen, Shehata & Partners
Law on Combating Information Technology Crimes This imposes penalties for failing to block web - sites or links that threaten national security, with fines and imprisonment for non-compliance. 6.2 Net Neutrality Regulations In Egypt, net neutrality is not explicitly codified, but existing regulations align with its principles. The Telecommunications Law requires service providers to offer non-discriminatory access, preventing practices like blocking or throttling of content. The NTRA enforces standards ensur - ing internet service providers (ISPs) adhere to minimum-quality service regulations, allowing users to access various services without unjus - tified degradation. Although specific net neutrality rules are absent, the NTRA enforces guidelines preventing the blocking of legal content and ensuring fair com - petition. Additionally, the Data Protection Law influences how ISPs handle personal data, ensuring consumer protection and affecting internet traffic management. Despite these measures, the lack of explicit net neutrality laws leaves room for issues like inter- net censorship or government website blocking. These actions, often related to national secu - rity or public morality, may restrict free and fair internet access. While the telecommunications sector strives for fairness and prevents anti- competitive practices, the absence of clear net neutrality provisions means there could still be potential for discriminatory practices, especially with the development of technologies like 5G and IoT. 6.3 Emerging Technologies Emerging technologies like 5G, IoT, and AI are reshaping Egypt’s telecommunications land -
Applicants must submit the relevant form to the NTRA, including: • name and details of the applicant; • proposed pricing; • financial and operational plans; • market analysis; and • other NTRA requirements. Once obtained, the licences will specify the scope, duration, territory, quality of service, and secrecy of information. Interconnectivity Requirements Licensed telecoms service providers must ensure the interconnection and integration of services. This includes disclosing technical specifications, ensuring non-discriminatory terms, and submit - ting data on harm caused by other networks. Interconnection policy This provides guidelines for reference intercon - nection offers (RIOs) and service level agree - ments (SLAs) with Telecom Egypt and other licensed providers. It covers regulatory, technical
and economic aspects. Security Requirements Telecommunication Regulation Law
Under this law, telecoms entities must provide the NTRA with reports, statistics and informa - tion, excluding national security matters. They are under the oversight of national security agencies and the armed forces, facing penalties for non-compliance, including fines and impris - onment.
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