Egypt offers free data after Ramses fire disrupts telecom services

Egypt’s telecom regulator has ordered all operators to provide up to 10GB of free data to users affected by a fire at the Ramses exchange on Monday that disrupted phone and internet services across Cairo.

The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) said in a statement Wednesday that mobile users will receive 1GB of free data, while home broadband subscribers will get 10GB. If a user’s fixed-line service remains unstable, they may instead receive 5GB on their mobile line.

The regulator said the move aims to uphold user rights and mitigate the impact of the disruption, which followed a fire on the 11-story Ramses exchange building. The fire damaged key equipment and cables, causing heavy smoke and disrupting traffic and digital services across the city.

“We are committed to maintaining service continuity and protecting customers,” the NTRA said.

On Tuesday, Parliament summoned Communications Minister Amr Talaat for an urgent session. Lawmakers demanded answers about the country’s digital infrastructure.

In a separate technical report, digital rights group Masar called for a national overhaul of Egypt’s centralized internet infrastructure. It urged the government to reduce reliance on single points of failure and enhance network resilience.

The NTRA said it will continue to oversee quality standards and prevent future outages.