CAIRO, Jan 1 (Reuters) - More than 80 percent of Egyptians will start 2011 with mobile telephones, according to latest official figures which showed cell phone subscriptions grew by nearly a quarter during the year.
A state website said subscriptions as of October were 65.488 million, a rise of more than 12.5 million, or 23.6 percent from a year earlier. Egypt is the Arab world's most populous country, with about 79 million people.
In October 2009, Egypt's three mobile operators -- Etisalat Egypt, Mobinil and Vodafone Egypt -- had 52.978 million subscribers.
The head of the telecoms regulator told Reuters in July that Egypt was looking into options for a fourth mobile licence, including a virtual network.
State-owned landline monopoly Telecom Egypt has expressed interest in a new licence.
To access the data, click on www.eip.gov.eg
(Reporting by Mohamed Samir) Keywords: EGYPT MOBILE/SUBSCRIBERS (mohamed.samir@thomsonreuters.com ; +20 2 2578 3290; Reuters Messaging: mohamed.samir.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
A state website said subscriptions as of October were 65.488 million, a rise of more than 12.5 million, or 23.6 percent from a year earlier. Egypt is the Arab world's most populous country, with about 79 million people.
In October 2009, Egypt's three mobile operators -- Etisalat Egypt, Mobinil and Vodafone Egypt -- had 52.978 million subscribers.
The head of the telecoms regulator told Reuters in July that Egypt was looking into options for a fourth mobile licence, including a virtual network.
State-owned landline monopoly Telecom Egypt has expressed interest in a new licence.
To access the data, click on www.eip.gov.eg
(Reporting by Mohamed Samir) Keywords: EGYPT MOBILE/SUBSCRIBERS (mohamed.samir@thomsonreuters.com ; +20 2 2578 3290; Reuters Messaging: mohamed.samir.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.