Ashraf AboArafe
Her Excellency Ms. Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt, opened the 5G Forum today by reaffirming the EU’s commitment to supporting Egypt’s digital transformation and fostering secure and inclusive connectivity for the future.
“It is a great pleasure and honor to open today’s 5G Forum – a significant and strategic event that reflects Egypt’s digital ambitions and our shared commitment to advancing secure, inclusive, and future-oriented connectivity,” said Ambassador Eichhorst.
She highlighted that Egypt is at a pivotal stage in its digital transformation journey, and that the shift to 5G technologies is not just a technological upgrade, but a strategic move toward becoming a regional digital hub. The EU, she stressed, is a long-standing strategic partner in this endeavor.
The Ambassador noted that digital cooperation is now a core pillar of the EU-Egypt strategic partnership, and emphasized the importance of deploying 5G in a safe, resilient, and sustainable manner.
She referenced the EU’s leadership in shaping the global digital environment, guided by the Digital Compass, and supported by regulatory tools such as the 5G Security Toolbox and the NIS2 Directive. These provide a risk-based, transparent approach to securing digital infrastructure and supply chains.
“These tools are already being applied across the EU, and we encourage our partners – including Egypt – to draw from these frameworks and adapt their principles to local contexts,” she said.
Eichhorst also stressed that the choice of service providers is not a purely technical decision, but a strategic one. “The long-term success of 5G depends not only on speed and cost, but on transparency, trust, and cyber resilience,” she warned, pointing to the real risks posed by high-risk vendors that fail to meet basic security or governance standards.
Beyond regulation, the EU is also committed to shaping global digital norms, supporting secure and human-centered digital development through initiatives like the Global Gateway, the Digital Compass, and bilateral digital partnerships.
“Egypt plays a vital role in this global dialogue,” she noted, highlighting Egypt’s involvement in initiatives such as the AU-EU Digital for Development Hub, the Medusa subsea cable project, and expressed interest in the Digital Europe Programme.
She concluded by calling for the 5G Forum to serve as a platform to deepen EU-Egypt cooperation:
“Let us work together for a 5G future in Egypt that is not only fast – but also trusted, inclusive, and resilient. The EU stands ready to support this transformation through regulatory expertise, trusted technology partners, and long-term investment aligned with our shared values.”
