Egypt’s minister of communications and information technology has reiterated the North African country’s commitment to opening up the internet to its citizens.
HumanIPO reported last month minister Atef Helmy had outlined his department’s five year plan for the sector and the rollout of broadband, but concerns have remained over its regulation of the internet.
In a meeting with Neelie Kroes, vice president of the European Commission and commissioner for the digital agenda, Helmy reportedly made another commitment to make broadband the “cornerstone for progress and development in all fields of the Egyptian economy”.
A statement from Helmy’s ministry said: “Minister Atef Helmy, during the meeting, confirmed that neither internet nor communications would be shutdown in Egypt. He described the consultations with the EU vice-president as enriching and constructive, explaining that several international issues, in relation to the future of internet governance, were tackled.
“He pointed out that the internet should be accessible to all categories in Egypt specially the poor [sic].”
During the meeting, Kroes emphasised the importance of protecting freedom of expression and said internet governance and standardisation “should be treated with more care, in order to reach an open internet in Egypt”.
