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Free Internet Access Is Profitable In Egypt

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the fat-cats-splitting-quarters dept.

prostoalex writes "With the demise of free Internet access providers, it's interesting to see this model working in Egypt, where the state-owned telecom allows people to dial-up for free as long as they pay the regular phone access fees. Associated Press quotes the phone line charges being 25 cents per hour. The ISPs that promote free Internet access from Telecom Egypt are then given their share of the profit."

6 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. Around the world by Banjonardo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Ig, or Internet Gratis, is one of the biggest ISPs in Brazil, and it's free. It runs on the advertisements it displays.

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    Score 3? For what? Being wrong, at length? - smirkleton

  2. 25 Cents US? by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Interesting
    That represents a tiny pittance in our terms; You can get that much by finding pennies on the ground outside the supermarket.

    How much is that in terms of the average Egyptian's income?

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  3. I don't like it .... by nicodaemos · · Score: 2, Interesting

    At $ 0.25 per hour, I would be paying about $3/day ~ $90/month. Right now I pay about $70/month for unlimited usage.

    Americans hate pay per use pricing schemes. Notice how all of the cell phone companies have moved to flat rates for a large number of minutes .... it's because we like to pay for unlimited usage of things whether it be the internet, phones or sex.

    Okay, well we've worked out the first two at least.

  4. I'll take unlmited free local calling any day... by aquarian · · Score: 3, Interesting

    One of the biggest enablers of commerce in the US is that we can just pick up the phone and yak without thinking about the cost. Letting your fingers do the walking can be quite expensive in many countries. While low cost internet access is a nice thing, low cost everyday phone service is far more important. I'll take free, unlimited local calling any day, then gladly pay $20/month for internet access if need be.

  5. Not Free by mc6809e · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is a state-owned monopoly telephone system that is very profitable. In essence, the state is providing "free" internet access by over-charging everyone else for telephone service.

    This is really a strategy by the State of Egypt to keep itself firmly in control of the Internet in the country. The deals with local ISP's to split the money are just to ensure the ISP's loyalty. They are being bought by the state.

  6. Re:I'll take unlmited free local calling any day.. by kliklik · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If you decrease the general stupidity of the population, they are going to fight against the high-dictatorship of the universe...

    --
    guru in training