Egypt’s Communications and IT Minister Amr Talaat said Wednesday that technology is the main driver of sustainable development, noting that the G5 technology is not just a quantum leap in communications, but also a key factor for smart cities to efficiently manage resources and realize digital inclusion.
He said the state has been keen on promoting the communications infrastructure and coping with up-to-date technology, noting that licenses were granted to the four mobile phone operators and the 5G services are due to start in the coming period.
Talaat highlighted the state’s efforts for digital transformation and keenness on benefiting from technology in improving health and educational services, developing industrial cities and promoting cyber security.
He added that the state has taken tangible steps to build an integrated mechanism for smart and sustainable cities, expanding the establishment of new smart cities, including the New Administrative Capital which became a leading model of the 4G cities.
He noted that the state has invested EGP 150 billion since 2018 to install fiber optic cables to develop the digital infrastructure nationwide.
This came in the minister’s speech – which was delivered on his behalf by his Deputy Ghada Labib – during the inauguration of the “Forum on 5G and Beyond: Enabling Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities” .
The ITU and the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) have jointly organizing the forum on December 10–11 at NTI premises in Smart Village. The event brings together national, regional, and global leaders and experts to discuss the integration of 5G and advanced mobile networks into smart city planning.
The forum aims to explore how 5G networks can create sustainable and resilient smart cities, enhancing urban services such as smart grids and intelligent transportation systems.
It also focuses on promoting open standards for 5G to enable seamless integration across urban systems while fostering inclusivity and accessibility. Additionally, the forum showcases global case studies and shares successful examples of 5G-enabled smart city initiatives. Security and governance challenges, including cyber security and compliance with emerging regulations, are also addressed.

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