Founded in 1854, Telecom Egypt was the first telecom operator in Egypt, providing fixed and mobile voice and data services. In 2017, it rebranded its retail business to WE with the launch of mobile services. The company had 12.5 million fixed-line telephone subscribers, 9.5 million fixed-internet customers, and 12.4 million mobile subscribers as of December 2023. In January 2024, The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority granted Telecom Egypt the country’s first license to install and operate 5G networks for mobile phones for $150 million. The company also owns a 45% stake in Vodafone Egypt.