The Egyptian government is aiming to replace 95% of its copper network with fibre by the end of 2020, Agence Ecofin cites deputy spokesperson for Ministry of Communications & Information Technology (MCIT), Ahmed Zidane, as saying. According to the official, 60% of state-owned operator Telecom Egypt’s (TE’s) copper network has been replaced with fibre so far, but the government is planning to accelerate the rate of replacement with a view to improving broadband penetration. Aiding the network modernisation programme, the government will utilise the fibre-optic manufacturing plant established in Badr in March 2018, Mr Zidane added.