Egypt’s Telecom Division Backs Extension of One-Phone Customs Exemption as a Strategic Measure to Curb Smuggling and Support Market Transparency
The General Division for Telecommunications and FinTech at the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce has welcomed the recent decision by the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) to extend the customs exemption for a single mobile phone accompanying travelers into Egypt, describing it as a measured and pragmatic policy that balances consumer rights with market protection.
Ehab Saeed, Chairman of the Division, stated that the exemption reflects a realistic understanding of personal usage patterns among returning Egyptians and contributes to reducing financial burdens. At the same time, he emphasized that the one-device limit is a necessary safeguard to prevent commercial-scale imports being disguised as personal items.
> “This decision is aligned with both economic sensibility and consumer protection,” Saeed noted. “It facilitates legitimate access to personal technology without encouraging abuse of the system.”
Legal Channels Strengthened, Loopholes Under Scrutiny
According to official figures, more than 650,000 smartphones have entered Egypt legally under the exemption scheme since the beginning of 2025, marking a significant step in formalizing mobile phone imports. However, attempts to circumvent the system remain a concern.
The NTRA disclosed that approximately 60,000 non-compliant devices have been disabled, with 13,000 of them fraudulently benefiting from the exemption. The authority confirmed these phones were brought in under misleading pretenses, exploiting a 90-day grace period for registration on local networks.
> “Some individuals have attempted to activate and resell devices within the grace window, evading official registration and violating the spirit of the policy,” Saeed explained. “But the automatic disconnection of such devices sends a clear message: the system is being monitored and enforced.”
A Policy to Support Compliance and Undermine the Black Market
Saeed affirmed that the continued application of the one-phone exemption directly contributes to disrupting illicit phone trafficking and curbing black-market activity, particularly as Egypt moves toward a fully regulated mobile device registration ecosystem.
He noted a notable decline in the number of unregistered devices entering the market compared to previous cycles, crediting improved coordination among customs, telecom operators, and regulatory bodies.
> “This isn’t just a customs exemption—it’s a strategic instrument to stabilize the mobile market and protect consumers from counterfeit or grey-market devices,” Saeed said. “Sustained cooperation among all stakeholders will be essential to ensure full compliance and the long-term success of the registration platform.”
The NTRA had earlier confirmed the continuation of the exemption during the trial phase of Egypt’s Mobile Device Registration System, while reaffirming its commitment to detecting and deterring misuse.
The system allows any mobile phone to be registered within 90 days of its first connection to a local network. Devices that remain unregistered beyond this window are automatically blocked from operating within Egypt.