Egypt-based telecom operators' promise to expand services to Gaza still unmet

None of the Egypt-based telecommunication operators expanded their services to cover Gaza despite earlier promises to help end a mass blackout across the besieged coastal enclave strip as Israel's war enters its fourth week and has killed thousands of Palestinians so far. 

In recent days, several Egyptian and international news outlets reported citing telecommunication providers as expressing readiness to send mobile towers to the Egyptian Rafah border city, pending the approval of the country's National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA) as well as other arrangements.

"These were just empty promises to ease the ongoing pressure on them as any junior telecom specialist knows that such towers will only cover a 10-kilometre-radius inside Gaza if operated at maximum capacity," a communication expert told The New Arab on condition of anonymity.

Local news outlets reported over the past few days that several telecom companies were set to install rely stations across the border with Gaza to boost internet and mobile signals. Local sources in Rafah city in North Sinai province, however, confirmed otherwise. 

"No telecommunication company has sent any technicians or engineers to the Rafah till now," a tribal leader in the border city told TNA.

"All journalists we know in Gaza depend on their communication on Thuraya satellite phones to remain connected," he added.

Similar reports by local media suggested that WE and Etisalat Misr were also contemplating supporting Gaza via existing towers and mobile units as discussions were underway with NTRA to coordinate and obtain the necessary official approvals.

"It was not about official approval to extend their coverage to Gaza. Rather, it was a kind of a pacifier to the public opinion and social media activists, instituting that telecom companies had been ready to support the Palestinian cause," a prominent political analyst, who asked to remain anonymous, remarked to TNA.

On the other hand, unconfirmed reports said Orange Egypt executives held talks with the NTRA officials on expanding its coverage to the distressed Palestinian strip. But technical details remain unclear. 

"Only Egyptian mobile lines with roaming service will be in this case able to make phone calls from Gaza to the outside world," the communication expert explained.

When contacted by TNA, the country's four mobile and internet operators declined to comment.

It remains unclear till the time of publication how telecommunication companies operating in Egypt can aid the Palestinians inside Gaza.