Vodafone Egypt to Send Mobile Units to Boost Communication in Gaza

In response to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and the International Telecommunication Union's plea to restore vital communication services, leading telecommunications company Vodafone Egypt announced the deployment of mobile communication units to the border between Egypt and Gaza, in collaboration with Egyptian authorities.

Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, which have been ongoing since October 7th, have resulted in over 7,700 fatalities with more than 20,000 individuals wounded. These airstrikes have also led to a severe humanitarian crisis, leaving 2.3 million Palestinians under an all-encompassing blockade, depriving them of essential resources like food, water, and fuel.

The Israeli authorities' decision to cut off all communications in the Gaza Strip has further exacerbated the situation, hindering news dissemination and impeding rescue efforts. This has created an urgent need for restored internet and mobile phone networks to facilitate communication and aid operations in the region.

The company's move to send mobile units to the Egypt-Gaza border aims to bolster internet and mobile phone networks, providing a lifeline for the affected population. The planned communication towers will be placed within 10 km of the Egypt-Gaza border, allowing anybody with a Vodafone Egypt sim card within its radius to access the network. Six communication towers are ready to be deployed once the appropriate licences and administration have been approved. Chairman of the board of directors of Vodafone Egypt, Hany Mahmoud, emphasised the critical nature of reestablishing communications in Gaza to save lives amidst the ongoing conflict.

The Egyptian government is also urging the international community to pressure Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.