Bharti Airtel plans to enter into a permanent agreement with Telecom Egypt to secure Indefeasible Right of Use of the Middle East North Africa Submarine Cable (MENA Cable). Telecom Egypt acquired MENA from Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding S.A.E (OTMT) through its subsidiary Egyptian International Submarine Cables Company (EISCC) for US$90 million in May 2018. Airtel will also have the right to use a fibre pair from Egypt to France on TE North cable system along with capacities on SMW5 and AAE1 cable systems. Ahmed El Beheiry, Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Egypt said, "Our reach and position as an international hub with tens of Tbps lit capacity makes us the partner of choice for Euro-Asian and Euro-African transit traffic. Telecom Egypt signed the agreement with OTMT to acquire MENA Cable with the aim of capitalising on the growing traffic from India and Saudi Arabia to Europe and to obtain a new gateway to Europe through Italy.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 07, 2018 10:41 UTC