Both Etisalat Misr and Vodafone Egypt (VFE) have agreed to acquire the 4G licence and spectrum in Egypt for a cost of USD535.5mn (EGP4.8bn) and USD335mn (EGP3.0bn), respectively, according to several news sources. Etisalat Misr bought 10MHz worth of 4G spectrum, while VFE secured 5MHz worth of 4G spectrum. Both operators also got the virtual fixed-line licence for a cost of USD11.26mn (EGP100mn) each. Orange Egypt announced yesterday that it had agreed to buy the 4G licence and 10MHz worth of 4G spectrum for a total cost of USD484mn (EGP4.3bn). The company also acquired the virtual fixed-line licence for USD11.26mn (EGP100mn). All operators will pay 50% of the 4G licence cost in USD and the balance in EGP, with total payments expected to flow in within one month from signing the agreements, according to Moustafa Abdelwahed, Deputy Head of National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA). More 4G spectrum will be offered to the operators in less than a year, Abdelwahed added. In terms of financing, both VFE and Etisalat Misr will finance the EGP portion through facilities obtained from local banks earlier this year, while the USD portion will be financed from their parent companies. VFE had secured a EGP4bn facility from seven local banks, while Etisalat Misr obtained a EGP2bn facility and is in talks for a EGP5bn facility. Orange Group will be in charge of the licence financing for its subsidiary in Egypt, according to unnamed sources. (Al Borsa, Al Mal)