Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Irene Saeed, an Egyptian lawmaker has submitted a parliamentary briefing request and formal question to the government over what she described as poor internet service quality, high pricing, and the unexplained rapid depletion of data packages affecting millions of users across the country.
Irene Saeed, a member of the House of Representatives, said widespread complaints from citizens point to a recurring pattern in which internet bundles expire unusually quickly without clear technical justification. Her request calls for government clarification and regulatory accountability over the issue.
Speaking in a televised phone interview on the program “Kol El Kalam” on Al-Shams TV, Saeed said internet access can no longer be treated as a luxury service, arguing that it has become a vital public utility comparable to electricity and gas. She linked the issue directly to the state’s digital transformation strategy, noting that tablet-based education systems, remote work, and online public services have made reliable and affordable internet access a basic right for Egyptian citizens.
Saeed sharply criticized Egypt’s current gigabyte-based pricing model, describing it as among the worst in terms of value for money. She said Egypt ranks among countries with the highest prices and lowest quality for limited internet packages, adding that several neighboring African countries have moved away from data-cap models toward unlimited internet systems that charge customers based on speed rather than volume.
She called for Egypt to immediately adopt a similar pricing framework, arguing that it would provide greater transparency and fairness for consumers. According to the lawmaker, she has received millions of complaints from users across multiple governorates, all pointing to a lack of clarity in how data is consumed and calculated.
Saeed also criticized the response of telecommunications companies, saying customer service interactions often lack accountability and responsibility. In her parliamentary submission, she questioned the role of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority and other oversight bodies, asking how consumer complaints are being monitored and what mechanisms exist to protect subscribers’ rights.
Highlighting the social dimension of the issue, Saeed said internet access has become one of the few affordable outlets for Egyptian families amid rising living costs and limited spending on outside entertainment. She warned that financial pressure combined with what citizens perceive as unfair internet charges could fuel public frustration, requiring urgent policy intervention.
The lawmaker rejected arguments that infrastructure limitations are to blame, noting that Egypt has made significant investments in fiber-optic cable networks in recent years. She also pointed out that telecom operators raised prices last year, leaving little justification, in her view, for continued service deterioration or the persistence of capped data systems.
The parliamentary move adds to growing public debate in Egypt over digital rights, consumer protection, and the regulatory framework governing telecommunications services as internet access becomes increasingly central to daily life.
