ICT Minister Inspects Ramses Telephone Exchange, Follows Up on Restoration of Fire-hit Services
The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat inspected Ramses Telephone Exchange in downtown Cairo today to follow up on the consequences of the fire and the firefighting efforts. He reviewed the measures taken to restore telecommunication services affected by the fire, which broke out in the building owned by Telecom Egypt and disrupted some services in recent hours.
Talaat was accompanied by Vice Minister for Infrastructure and Digital Transformation Raafat Hindy, Telecom Egypt CEO and Managing Director Mohamed Nasr, as well as officials from the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and Telecom Egypt.
The ICT Minister cut short his overseas visit and returned to Cairo to closely monitor the situation and assess the damage. During the visit, he reviewed the technical measures taken to ensure service continuity, contain the fire’s impact, and check on the injured.
According to the ICT Minister, all telecommunication services are expected to be gradually restored within 24 hours. He explained that services have been rerouted to other exchanges to ensure service availability. Talaat dismissed claims that Egypt relies on a single telephone exchange, confirming that although Ramses Telephone Exchange will remain out of service for several days, service restoration is underway through alternative exchanges.
Talaat affirmed that all critical services—such as emergency numbers, the bread distribution system, airports, ports, and essential utilities—are operating normally in most governorates. Only a few areas have witnessed temporary service disruptions, which are being addressed this morning.
He stressed that the situation is being monitored in real time, and directed that all repair and restoration work be completed swiftly. He also called for a list of affected users to be compiled so they can be compensated.
The ICT Minister extended his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and to Telecom Egypt’s leadership and staff, mourning those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Talaat expressed his appreciation to the Civil Protection forces and firefighters for their tireless efforts in containing the fire.
During his tour, Talaat received a briefing from Telecom Egypt CEO Mohamed Nasr, who stated that the fire initially broke out in a hall on the floor hosting telecom operators—each housed in separate halls—before spreading to other levels due to its intensity. He confirmed that the halls containing Telecom Egypt’s equipment are fitted with advanced self-extinguishing systems, which were unfortunately overwhelmed by the magnitude of the fire.
Following the inspection, Talaat visited hospitals where the injured were transferred, including Al Mounira, Dar Al Fouad, Sidnawy, and the Coptic Hospital. He checked on their condition and instructed that full support and medical care be provided.
