Introduction
Egypt is rapidly moving to introduce 5G telecommunications technology as part of its digital transformation strategy. With the commercial launch of these networks in 2025, significant debate has emerged regarding balancing the anticipated developmental benefits of 5G with potential human rights risks to citizens’ privacy and freedoms.
While the Egyptian government promotes 5G technology as an economic growth engine and a fundamental pillar for building “Digital Egypt,” several issues arise concerning the lack of legislative guarantees and transparency. These deficiencies could turn 5G networks into a tool for restricting rights and freedoms.
This paper analytically discusses the introduction of 5G networks in Egypt and their implications for citizens’ daily lives and fundamental rights. It also provides a simplified technical background on 5G and its functions. Furthermore, the paper examines the 5G rollout roadmap in Egypt, identifying key stakeholders (governmental, private, and international), before analyzing the most prominent human rights risks associated with 5G applications.
Additionally, the paper discusses the absence of institutional independence, both legislatively and technically, within the Egyptian landscape. It explores the consequences of this on user sovereignty and control over their data and digital destiny. Finally, the paper examines the developmental opportunities that 5G networks could offer if introduced within a rights-respecting environment, and it concludes with a set of policy recommendations.
Technical Background: What are 5G Networks?
5G, the fifth generation of wireless cellular technology, represents a significant leap forward compared to 4G in speed, capacity, and connection efficiency. These networks aim to provide unprecedented data transfer speeds, theoretically reaching gigabit-per-second levels, which is tens of times faster than 4G networks.
For instance, 5G can achieve peak download speeds of 20 gigabits per second (Gbps), while practical speeds expected at launch range from around 50 megabits per second (Mbps) to a few Gbps. In contrast, current 4G networks often don’t exceed actual speeds of 45 Mbps.
Beyond high speed, 5G networks offer several crucial technical characteristics. First, latency (the time it takes for the network to respond to commands) is extremely low, potentially reaching milliseconds. This means nearly instantaneous interaction with the network.
Second, 5G can support a massive number of devices simultaneously, connecting millions of devices within the same geographical area. This is about ten times more than 4G’s capacity. These features enable 5G to connect all devices, like smartphones and computers, along with smart machines and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, into a single, fast, and efficient network.
5G technology relies on advanced techniques to achieve high speeds. One such technique is using much higher radio frequencies than previous generations, such as 28 GHz or more, compared to 4G frequencies, which are typically below 2.5 GHz. Higher frequencies allow more data to pass in a shorter time, but they also cover shorter distances. This necessitates using a greater number of antennas and base stations to ensure good coverage. Therefore, 5G will depend on very small cells densely distributed in populated areas.
Additionally, 5G uses smart antenna technologies that direct the signal specifically towards the device instead of broadcasting it in all directions. Networks also leverage a technique called “Massive MIMO,” which uses numerous antennas simultaneously to improve performance and reduce interference. This allows connecting a large number of devices at the same time with high quality.
The 5G Rollout in Egypt: Actors and Lack of Transparency
Egypt has begun introducing 5G networks over the past two years through a series of official and commercial steps that have drawn an initial roadmap for the technology’s spread across the country.
On the governmental side, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) leads these efforts as part of the “Digital Egypt 2030” vision. Minister Amr Talaat has emphasized that the transition to 5G is a fundamental component of the state’s strategy to build an inclusive digital economy and enhance sustainable development. On the regulatory government bodies, the National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA) is the primary entity authorized to manage the licensing and frequency allocation process.
Early 2024 saw the granting of the first license for 5G services in Egypt. The state-owned Telecom Egypt (WE) secured a 15-year license for $150 million. In late 2024, the government sold similar licenses to the three other mobile operators in the Egyptian market for a total of $675 million. These companies are:
- Vodafone Egypt (a subsidiary of Vodafone Global/Vodacom South Africa)
- Orange Egypt (a subsidiary of Orange France)
- Etisalat Egypt, e& (a subsidiary of the UAE-based &e Group)
Granting the licenses coincided with signing the contracts in October 2024, attended by the Minister of Communications. Consequently, by the end of 2024, all mobile telecommunications companies in Egypt had obtained the necessary licenses to launch 5G services commercially, in preparation for the official launch in June 2025.
Regarding infrastructure, companies have already begun preparations for deployment. Telecom Egypt announced its intention to launch the first experimental 5G network in some cities during 2024. It also revealed its selection of Finnish company Nokia as a primary supplier for Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment, including base station units and modern MIMO antennas.
Meanwhile, Chinese companies, notably Huawei, have remained present. Despite Egypt’s stated pursuit of so-called “trusted vendors” in cooperation with European and American countries, reports confirm the continued partnership between Telecom Egypt and Huawei in the 5G domain. In March 2025, Telecom Egypt announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with Huawei to enhance technical solutions for launching 5G services.
It is worth noting that Huawei had announced plans to pilot 5G networks during the Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo in 2019. Although the trial did not materialize at the time, it reflected Egypt’s early inclination to collaborate with China in this technical context. This comes at a time when several countries, such as Germany, have begun gradually phasing out Huawei components from their networks due to security concerns.
Nevertheless, there is no transparent disclosure in Egypt regarding whether equipment from Chinese companies will form the backbone of the network or if diversification with other suppliers will occur. All that is known is that major companies (Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat) already have 4G network infrastructures that partially rely on Chinese equipment, and this is likely to continue unless an official directive states otherwise.
This ambiguity leaves the end-user uncertain about data security as vendors and technologies are selected behind the scenes between the government and companies, without public participation or parliamentary transparency.
Human Rights Risks Associated with 5G Networks
Despite the promising potential of 5G networks, they also pose a wide range of human rights risks and challenges. Significant technological advancements can be beneficial if utilized adequately within a legal framework that protects rights. However, they can also become tools for exacerbating existing violations if exploited without proper controls.
Real-Time Surveillance and Erosion of Privacy
The proliferation of 5G networks grants unprecedented capabilities for government surveillance and large-scale personal data collection. The architecture of these networks, which connects billions of devices, means massive data flows. This data encompasses all aspects of a citizen’s digital life, from their precise real-time geographical location and online activities, to their interactions via the IoT, and even their voice and image in the era of “smart cities” saturated with sensors.
In the absence of strict controls, these capabilities could transform into a threat of pervasive surveillance. Studies indicate that 5G technologies will make tracking individuals easier, enabling governments to accurately pinpoint citizens’ locations in real-time through their numerous antennas.
Massar previously warned that 5G could make “people’s safety a thing of the past as they can be easily tracked through this technology.” For example, every phone connected to a 5G network will constantly broadcast its location to the network due to the density of connection points. Consequently, authorities could instantly map anyone’s movements if desired. This level of real-time surveillance severely undermines the constitutionally and legally guaranteed right to privacy.
Furthermore, recent legislative amendments, specifically those related to the draft Criminal Procedure Law, have legalized the surveillance of personal communications in Egypt. The law permits monitoring phones and social media with judicial permission if the case involves crimes punishable by more than three months. As a result, individuals’ private digital sphere becomes vulnerable to privacy violations under the law itself.
With the advent of 5G, the situation becomes even more sensitive because the immense volume of data flowing through the network will include more detailed information about individuals. This includes data from home sensors (home surveillance cameras, smart thermostats, etc.), fitness and health data from wearable devices, and other aspects of daily digital life. If security agencies intercepted or collected this data without independent judicial oversight, it would establish a digital infrastructure that monitors the most minute details of a citizen’s life.
Threat to Freedom of Expression and Opinion
Privacy and freedom of expression are intimately linked. When individuals know they are constantly monitored, they will hesitate to express their opinions or criticize authorities for fear of prosecution. In the last decade, Egypt has seen a suffocating crackdown on online freedom of expression, with hundreds of independent websites blocked and dozens of activists detained due to their posts. This intensified security surveillance has fostered widespread self-censorship among journalists and bloggers.
In this context, 5G technologies could further empower security agencies to monitor everything written or exchanged digitally in real-time. With 5G’s ultra-high speeds and massive data transfer capabilities, authorities could technically monitor video broadcasts, live streams, and social media interactions without delay. This means monitoring live streams of protests or even group voice chat rooms would become instantaneous, assuming they are unencrypted.
Additionally, the enormous network capacity might increase the authorities’ ability to impose widespread automatic filtering and surveillance systems. These systems could rely on artificial intelligence to detect “forbidden” keywords among citizens. Such scenarios clearly threaten freedom of expression and further stifle the digital civil sphere.
There are also fears that 5G networks could be exploited for selective internet shutdowns or disconnections during times of unrest. Egyptian authorities previously shut down all communication and internet services during the 2011 revolution. This was followed by a more precise strategy of blocking websites and reducing internet speeds during subsequent events.
With 5G, localized or selective shutdowns of specific networks might become easier through network software systems (Softwarization). Network slicing capabilities could also be used to deny service to particular groups while keeping others connected. These technologies are neutral in themselves, but in an environment lacking controls, they could become tools of digital repression, hindering opponents’ access to information or preventing their communication during critical moments.
Biometric Surveillance and Expanding Identity Recognition Technologies
Biometric technologies, including facial, iris, and voice recognition, represent some of the most dangerous modern surveillance tools. With the prevalence of CCTV and the emergence of smart cities, concerns have arisen about 5G’s potential to connect a vast network of high-resolution cameras and real-time analysis systems. These systems could instantly recognize passersby’s faces and track their movements.
Signs of this trend are already appearing in Egypt. The government is currently building the New Administrative Capital as a smart city equipped with over 6,000 surveillance cameras monitoring streets around the clock. Media sources confirm that the control center for these cameras can analyze video in real-time to detect gatherings, automatically track “suspects,” and trigger alarms when necessary. It’s important to note that Egypt currently lacks any laws regulating the use of biometric recognition technologies or defining their controls, meaning their use occurs without judicial or legislative oversight.
These concerns are not merely theoretical; the most prominent example is China’s Xinjiang region. Authorities there deploy millions of cameras and biometric recognition technologies to monitor the Uyghur Muslim minority in what is described as the most extensive digital surveillance program on Earth. This has coincided with a massive expansion of 5G infrastructure in the region, leading experts to warn that China is exploiting the proliferation of 5G stations to enhance its surveillance and repression system rather than for economic development.
This model serves as a cautionary tale of what can result from combining 5G technology with a lack of controls: mass surveillance and systematic repression of minorities with high-tech tools. Despite the differences between the Chinese and Egyptian contexts, the similarity lies in the lack of transparency and weak accountability. This could pave the way for similar use of advanced surveillance technologies against any targeted group in Egyptian society, such as political activists, dissidents, and minorities, without oversight or accountability.
From another perspective, the expansion of biometric surveillance raises serious constitutional and human rights issues. Firstly, it directly infringes on the right to privacy and individual dignity, making vital biometric data public without consent.
Secondly, use of 5G networks could negatively affect the freedom of peaceful assembly. Citizens might be hesitant to participate in lawful demonstrations or gatherings due to the fear of facial monitoring and the storage of their data in security databases. This stored information could be used in the future to bring unspecified charges against them.
Thirdly, these technologies often come with accuracy and algorithmic bias problems, such as facial recognition systems bias against individuals with darker skin tones, which could lead to errors and false accusations against innocent people.
For all these reasons, over 170 international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have demanded a complete ban on mass biometric surveillance systems, considering them irreconcilable with human rights standards. However, Egypt has not responded to any of these global calls; instead, it is proceeding with adopting these systems without public dialogue or a legal framework.
Deepening the Digital Divide and Inequality
Despite promises that 5G networks will provide faster connectivity “for all,” the reality may be more complex, especially in a country like Egypt with existing digital development gaps between different socioeconomic classes and regions. 5G technology demands massive financial and infrastructural investments, from laying thousands of fiber optic cables to installing hundreds of thousands of small antennas. By its nature, deployment will initially concentrate in major cities and economic zones where the return on investment is higher.
Egyptian officials have stated that the initial 5G deployment plan will prioritize “major cities, main roads, and special economic zones.” This implicitly means that rural and remote areas, home to millions of Egyptians, may experience significant delays in benefiting from this technology.
Without compensatory policies, this could widen the digital divide between those with 5G access and those without. 5G users will enjoy advanced services like high-speed connectivity, improved remote education, digital healthcare, and online economic opportunities. In contrast, those without access will continue to suffer from slow or intermittent internet, exacerbating opportunity inequalities.
The cost of 5G services and necessary devices is another factor that might limit equitable adoption. Estimates suggest that the cost of 5G-enabled devices (like compatible phones) will remain high in the short term compared to traditional devices.
Additionally, telecommunications companies may seek to recoup their significant investments by imposing high usage tariffs on premium 5G services. For example, in early 2023, mobile companies in Egypt requested a 20-30% increase in service prices, citing eroding profit margins. The rollout of 5G could serve as a new justification for raising consumer prices.
This situation threatens to exclude lower-income segments from benefiting from 5G services, initially making it an elite technology. Masaar has warned that the cost of adopting 5G technologies far exceeds the living standards of most citizens in developing countries, creating “economic isolation and financial segregation” between those who can afford the cost and those who cannot.
Impact on Employment and Labor Rights
Introducing new technologies often raises concerns about job losses due to automation and digitalization. These concerns are powerful with 5G. The expectation is that 5G’s high speeds and low latency will enable the widespread deployment of AI and robotics across various sectors, potentially displacing human labor in several professions.
This process will occur gradually through what is known as technological unemployment. A previous Masaar paper on 5G highlighted concerns that these technologies and AI “will take over more jobs by performing human tasks more efficiently.”
For example, suppose industrial companies in Egypt successfully adopt 5G-powered smart factory solutions, such as real-time maintenance robots and autonomous vehicles in warehouses. In that case, their reliance on certain categories of human labor might decrease. Similarly, the service sector could see the adoption of automated systems, such as advanced AI-powered automated response systems, potentially reducing the need for customer service representatives.
These concerns must be contextualized. History shows that every industrial revolution has eliminated some jobs while creating others. With 5G, new jobs requiring different skills are also expected to emerge, such as managing complex networks, analyzing big data, and maintaining robots and smart systems. Therefore, the challenge lies in re-skilling the workforce to acquire the necessary skills for future professions, enabling workers to transition into new roles rather than losing their jobs.
In Egypt, this requires the government’s proactive educational and training vision. This includes integrating digital economy concepts into technical education and providing free or subsidized training programs for employees whose jobs are likely to be affected by automation. Without this, large segments of the workforce, especially less-educated youth, could be excluded from the labor market, leading to increased unemployment and social instability.
Another aspect affecting labor rights and the supply chain is the manufacturing conditions of 5G technology components. This technology relies on devices and equipment that require rare earth metals and elements extracted in developing countries under difficult working conditions. International reports indicate that increased demand for 5G equipment will lead to higher demand for certain metals (such as cobalt and lithium) that predominantly come from countries with poor labor rights records and ongoing conflicts.
As a technology consumer, Egypt has an ethical responsibility to consider these factors in its policies. This includes the government prioritizing suppliers with clean records and supporting international agreements to protect workers’ rights in electronics supply chains.
Environmental Impact of 5G Networks
The environmental considerations associated with the anticipated spread of millions of 5G-enabled devices and the construction of thousands of new towers cannot be overlooked. 5G networks raise concerns about increased energy consumption and higher carbon emissions. While 5G technologies are more efficient at data transmission than 4G and require less power per gigabyte of information sent, overall electricity consumption is expected to rise. This is due to the extensive use of 5G, driven by the growing number of antennas and connected devices.
Additionally, building 5G infrastructure requires deploying a vast number of base stations, which means more communication towers and potentially removing trees or using new land. The rapid upgrading of user devices, such as phones and modems, with the transition to 5G will also lead to a wave of electronic waste as older, incompatible devices are discarded. This waste contains toxic materials and causes pollution if not properly managed.
There is a growing global awareness of the need to make 5G deployment as green and sustainable as possible. Some proposed solutions include: telecommunications operators adopting renewable energy (solar or wind) to power network stations to reduce emissions; improving equipment efficiency, such as using energy-saving technologies in communication towers (like automatic antenna shutdowns during idle periods); and utilizing small cells integrated into existing infrastructure (e.g., installing antennas on street light poles) instead of building separate towers for each, to minimize the environmental footprint.
Furthermore, national plans for recycling and recovering metals from old devices should be established to reduce electronic waste. In Egypt, these policies are currently absent from official discussions regarding 5G, with the focus solely on economic benefits and digital transformation. Therefore, it is crucial to integrate the environmental dimension into 5G transition plans from the outset to avoid digital progress coming at the cost of environmental degradation and human health.
Opportunities for Positive 5G Use in a Rights-Respecting Environment
Despite the risks and reservations mentioned, it’s crucial to emphasize the significant developmental opportunities and potential offered by 5G technology, especially if adopted within a transparent, rights-respecting environment. Fifth-generation networks can be a positive driving force for Egyptian society and economy in many areas, provided safeguards are in place to prevent misuse and build user trust. Here are some of the most prominent positive uses of 5G and how to maximize their benefit within an Egyptian context committed to rights:
Narrowing the Digital Divide and Enhancing Inclusivity
If deployed wisely, 5G networks can expand high-speed internet access to previously underserved areas and population segments. In the 4G era, residents of rural and remote areas suffered from weak fixed-line infrastructure, making them reliant on cellular networks for internet access.
With 5G’s advanced wireless capabilities, Egypt can provide broadband connectivity to rural and remote areas via Fixed Wireless Access technology, eliminating the need to lay cables to every home. This requires political will to direct a portion of 5G investments toward these less commercially profitable areas, perhaps through incentives for companies or partnerships with the government.
To ensure the success of these efforts, fair pricing for essential 5G services must be guaranteed, making them accessible to lower-income groups. Innovative subsidized or reduced-cost packages should be created for students, farmers, and others. Through its state-owned Telecom Egypt, the government can directly offer affordable packages to foster positive competition and serve the public good.
Empowering the Digital Economy and Creating Innovative Job Opportunities
While the spread of 5G networks threatens some existing jobs, it simultaneously promises to create new ones and invigorate entrepreneurship. For example, the app economy could see significant growth thanks to the capabilities offered by the advanced infrastructure.
Egyptian developers can innovate applications and services that rely on high speed, such as cloud-based games streaming, virtual reality sports training apps, or interactive video platforms. These applications wouldn’t function efficiently on a slower network. This field will open new horizons for young entrepreneurs to establish startups in areas like virtual reality and the IoT.
The state should support this trend by providing a flexible regulatory environment, making permits easier to obtain, encouraging investment, and fostering a climate of freedom to exchange and develop ideas without political or security restrictions.
In this context, the Minister of Communications noted that “measuring the success of the communications sector isn’t just about achieved figures, but also about its impact on citizens’ lives and empowering youth to innovate and access independent global job opportunities.” Though theoretically sound, this vision requires practical application by ensuring a secure human rights environment that supports these young people.
Furthermore, 5G networks can help improve the efficiency of traditional sectors like industry and agriculture. For example, using 5G in a Swedish mine led to a €2.5 million annual cost reduction by automating drilling operations. Egypt has an industrial zone, such as the Suez Canal Economic Zone, where implementing similar technology could double productivity and create technical jobs to oversee these operations.
5G technologies can make a qualitative leap in the agricultural sector through soil sensors and smart irrigation systems. This will increase agricultural production and rationalize water consumption, which is crucial for Egypt given its water challenges.
For these projects to succeed, they require government investment and cooperation with technology companies to achieve tangible economic and social benefits. For these systems to be accepted and to raise living standards, their implementation must be fully transparent. It is crucial to educate workers and farmers about how they function and involve them in the design process. This will help address any concerns about potentially imposed solutions that could jeopardize their livelihoods.
Enhancing Quality of Life in Cities While Respecting Privacy
5G-powered smart cities promise to improve urban life through various applications, from smart waste management to intelligent energy systems and pollution reduction. Such initiatives do not directly infringe on personal rights, making them less controversial and relatively easier to implement. However, other applications, like security surveillance systems, require careful regulation to be used responsibly.
5G technologies can enhance safety at public events such as sports matches, concerts, and conferences. This can be achieved by deploying cameras and drones that provide live feeds to emergency response units, enabling immediate action in case of incidents. This use is positive, provided it adheres to the law and does not target peaceful protesters or violate attendees’ privacy.
The use of such solutions must be transparent and accountable. When surveillance technologies are deployed, their purpose, data storage methods, access rights, and eventual disposal should be clearly announced. If citizens understand that surveillance aims solely at public protection, not espionage, they will be more accepting and cooperative.
In this context, establishing local civilian oversight councils (at the city level) to monitor smart city projects could be pioneering. These councils, comprising local residents and experts, would review any new technology before its deployment, assessing its impact on people’s lives and privacy.
Recommendations for 5G Governance to Protect Rights and Freedoms
In light of the challenges and opportunities presented in this paper, there is an urgent need for measures to ensure that 5G networks in Egypt are governed in a way that protects citizens’ rights and serves the public good. Below are several recommendations for government and legislative bodies, as well as telecommunications companies:
Updating the Legal Framework to Protect Digital Rights:
- Amend the Personal Data Protection Law to address its serious loopholes. Exceptions that allow security agencies to process data without oversight must be abolished or significantly narrowed. No entity should be allowed to access personal data except with a reasoned judicial warrant and for a limited duration in cases of extreme necessity. Additionally, the executive regulations for the law should be issued, and the independence of the Data Protection Center must be ensured upon its formation.
- Enact a specific law to regulate biometric surveillance technologies. Given the serious nature of technologies such as facial recognition cameras and emotion analysis systems, Parliament should enact a law to prevent their indiscriminate use. This law could explicitly prohibit mass biometric surveillance in public places except under very strict controls, such as searching for missing persons or dangerous fugitives, and with a judicial order for each individual case. The law should also mandate requirements such as: not storing any biometric data captured from non-suspect individuals and destroying it immediately; and the necessity of informing the public when they are within the range of smart cameras. Such provisions align with international trends towards curbing these technologies.
- Review telecommunications and criminal procedure laws to adopt stricter safeguards for intercepting communications. The draft Criminal Procedure Law, which permits comprehensive surveillance, must be reviewed. At a minimum, any surveillance order should require the approval of an independent tripartite judicial body, be limited to a specific number of individuals, and only be for serious crimes. Telecommunications Law 10/2003 should also be amended to remove vague provisions allowing executive bodies to cut or monitor telecommunications and internet services without neutral oversight.
- Strengthen guarantees for online freedom of expression in media laws. Provisions that allow website blocking, such as those in the Cybercrime Law, should be abolished unless by judicial order and after notification and litigation procedures, to prevent 5G from being exploited to build a more extensive blocking system. Furthermore, the Media Law should be amended to prevent the Supreme Council for Media Regulation or any other body from imposing censorship restrictions on digital content outside the judiciary’s authority.
Establishing Independent Oversight Bodies and Mechanisms:
- Form a National Commission for Digital Transformation and Citizens’ Rights: This multidisciplinary commission should comprise legal experts, technologists, and human rights advocates. Its mandate would be to review any new government digital projects (such as smart capital initiatives or surveillance systems) and provide binding recommendations on their impact on privacy and rights. This commission would issue transparent reports to the public on how projects adhere to human rights standards. It could be established by presidential decree or a specific law, provided it remains independent of executive ministries.
- Empower the National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA) with transparency tools: NTRA should mandate telecommunications companies to submit regular transparency reports. These reports would disclose the number and type of government requests received for data access or wiretapping, and how these requests were handled. NTRA should then publish this data for the public. Additionally, NTRA must oblige companies to establish clear privacy policies for their subscribers, detailing what data is collected and how it is used, and ensuring subscribers have the right to access and modify their data held by the company.
- Enhance the role of the administrative judiciary in oversight: Individuals and organizations should be empowered to challenge technology-related decisions before the State Council. For example, they could challenge a decision to install smart cameras in a specific neighborhood for illegality. Courts should respond promptly to these cases due to their rapidly evolving technical nature. Establishing a specialized chamber within the State Council to hear digital disputes could be beneficial for developing judicial expertise in this field.
Technology Policies to Fortify Infrastructure and Protect State Sovereignty:
- Diversify 5G Equipment Suppliers: The Egyptian government should balance competing companies (Nokia, Ericsson, Huawei, etc.) to avoid over-reliance on a single vendor for critical network components. Purchase contracts must include cybersecurity clauses, such as the right to conduct security audits on equipment and the requirement to store data in Egypt. Additionally, no unknown software components should be permitted. A practical “trusted vendor” approach means selecting companies with a strong track record in security and transparency, regardless of their nationality; technical trustworthiness should be the primary criterion. Furthermore, Egypt should accelerate trials of Open RAN in some cities to assess its viability, as this technology reduces vendor lock-in.
- Build and Secure Local Data Centers: As reliance on cloud services increases with 5G, Egypt must own or regionally host most of these services to ensure data sovereignty. The more Egyptian data is held within Egypt and subject to Egyptian laws, the more both user and state sovereignty are strengthened. However, simultaneously, users must be reassured that local data presence doesn’t imply easier security access. Therefore, legal reforms are crucial to ensure judicial oversight of data access, even when stored locally.
- Develop Cybersecurity Emergency Plans: These plans should include backup mechanisms for dealing with cyberattacks on 5G networks or their malicious exploitation, such as jamming attacks. This technical security aspect is essential for user protection, but must be implemented within a framework that respects the law and avoids overreach. For example, a standard procedure for handling a 5G base station hack should involve immediate isolation without taking down the entire network. Plans should also cover the continuity of vital services if a part of the 5G network fails.
Guarantees for Non-Discrimination and Universal Access
To ensure a fair and equitable rollout of 5G, specific guarantees are needed to prevent discrimination and promote universal access.
- Mandate Non-Discrimination Policies for Companies: This means ensuring no discrimination in service quality between different regions or user groups. NTRA should establish minimum coverage standards that companies must achieve in every governorate within specified timelines, linking this to license renewals.
- Integrate Environmental and Health Considerations into Deployment Policies: Any new licenses granted to telecom companies should include a clause obliging them to submit a plan for making their operations more environmentally friendly. This includes using a percentage of renewable energy for their towers, managing electronic waste recycling in cooperation with recycling companies, or planting compensatory trees when erecting towers in green areas. Additionally, a health oversight committee should be established between the Ministries of Communications and Health to monitor any complaints or studies regarding the health effects of 5G networks, such as interference with medical devices or elevated temperatures around a tower. This committee should be empowered to halt or modify the operation of any station if a health risk is proven.
- Engage Civil Society in Decision-Making: Local civil society organizations should be invited to participate in hearings on 5G policies. These organizations offer studies and perspectives that can balance purely technical engineering viewpoints. The private sector, particularly technology startups, should also be involved in providing their input, as they are stakeholders who fear that unsound policies could create an environment hostile to innovation.
Conclusion
As Egypt embraces 5G technology, it stands on the cusp of a new era that will reshape the nation’s digital landscape for decades to come. This paper has aimed to provide a comprehensive and balanced analysis of this pivotal moment, presenting both the significant developmental benefits of 5G and the concerning human rights risks it poses. It’s clear that the fundamental challenge isn’t the technology itself, but rather how it’s managed and governed.
Responsible deployment of 5G networks in Egypt can contribute to economic growth, enhance public services, and provide faster connectivity for all. Conversely, a lack of transparency and security overreach, combined with a focus on profit at the expense of rights, could transform 5G into a tool for increased surveillance, repression, and widening social divides.
This paper highlighted several critical points, including the risks of pervasive surveillance and privacy violations within the 5G infrastructure; the threat to freedom of expression and the implications of self-censorship; the issue of a weak legal framework; and 5G’s impacts on the digital divide, employment, and the environment.