Egypt’s National IPv6 Strategy: A Game Changer For Internet Speed, Security, and IoT
The Egyptian government is implementing an ambitious strategy for comprehensive digital transformation to meet the growing demand for communication technologies, particularly the internet.
Moreover, it is working on enhancing the operational and business environment for the internet sector and companies operating within it, as well as contributing to ensuring continuous access to various digital services.
In its latest step, the government launched the national strategy for Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) during a regional conference organized by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) in cooperation with the International Forum for IPv6 and the Arab Organization for Communications and Information Technologies.
Moving Forward on IPv6
Egypt is working on preparing plans and adopting the necessary future strategies to implement IPv6, including security standards, scalability, and meeting the growing demand for connectivity in the era of big data, machine-to-machine communication, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
This shift is a crucial step in addressing challenges related to the fourth-generation Internet Protocol (IPv4), the increasing shortage of IPv4 addresses, and its significant impact on the continuity of services and access, especially with the increasing use of emerging technologies like big data, IoT, cloud services, among others.
This strategy represents a comprehensive roadmap aimed at enabling Egypt’s digital infrastructure to keep up with global technological developments, ensuring the sustainability of internet services, and accommodating the rapid expansion of 5G applications.
The strategy aims for full readiness of both public and private infrastructure to support IPv6 over the next three years, with a goal of achieving over 80% national reliance on the protocol by 2030. Additionally, it plans to enable internet service providers to fully support IPv6 by the end of 2026.
The strategy also includes implementing specialized training programs and launching comprehensive awareness campaigns targeting all relevant stakeholders, including end users, to ensure a smooth and secure transition to the new protocol across the country.
Collaboration is Key
Experts have emphasized the need for the NTRA to hold intensive workshops involving various concerned government agencies and institutions from the private sector at both local and international levels to discuss the current situation and the essential requirements for building an integrated system.
Furthermore, they stressed the importance of collaborating with national internet service providers to help formulate the best strategies and policies for transitioning to IPv6 and ensuring a better future for Egypt’s internet sector and businesses.
They also highlighted the need to reach a specific target, where the average usage of IPv6 would exceed 80% in the coming years, as planned.
They pointed out the necessity of implementing a future plan to deploy this protocol across the country, including government sites and other networks (both fixed and mobile). Additionally, they emphasized the need to focus on financial inclusion, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence to build an integrated system and improve internet services.
Massive Investments
Egypt has invested $3.5 billion in developing its digital infrastructure, which has contributed to doubling the average speed of fixed internet in seven years, rising from 5.4 Mbps in December 2017 to 80.3 Mbps in January 2025. These efforts have also resulted in Egypt leading Africa in fixed internet speed rankings for more than three consecutive years.
IPv6 Strategy’s Pros
Mohamed Shamroukh, CEO of NTRA, affirmed that the launch of the national IPv6 strategy would strengthen the country’s digital transformation journey, stating that this technology will enable a range of new and innovative services, including 5G applications, IoT services, smart homes, and wearable devices, in addition to improving the user experience for communication services.
He also noted that the NTRA had already begun taking practical steps to support this direction, such as offering incentives to update infrastructure, developing programs to build national capacity, and collaborating with local and international partners.
It is worth noting that the launch of this strategy is part of a series of achievements made by Egypt in the telecommunications sector, under a clear national vision aimed at building a robust, secure digital infrastructure that can meet future requirements. These include granting 5G licenses to mobile companies, launching WiFi Calling services to improve indoor and closed-area connectivity, providing eSIM services for a transformative user experience, offering call center licenses to support the outsourcing industry, and issuing licenses for cybersecurity companies to enhance the protection of digital infrastructure and secure communication services.
IPv6 is the latest version of internet protocols and is notable for offering almost unlimited IP addresses compared to previous protocols, enabling the connection of more devices easily, while improving data transmission speed and security. Therefore, IPv6 is a crucial foundation for developing the digital economy and supporting smart city applications and IoT services.
More Secure Experience
Hisham El-Alaily, former CEO of the NTRA, described this version of the national IPv6 strategy as being more secure, explaining that the protocol is somewhat open, and that one of the main concerns has been security and vulnerability. However, this version addresses those concerns by providing better protection for data transmission compared to previous versions, though it does not guarantee 100% security.
He further added that in the past, there was competition between ATM and IP protocols, with ATM being more secure but IP becoming more widespread, which led to a focus on improving IP security, as happened with IPv6.
El-Alaily affirmed the need for awareness and education about the advantages of IPv6 to accelerate digital transformation and introduce new technologies. He highlighted that one of the challenges of digital transformation is that a large segment of the population is unaware of what digital transformation is and the benefits it would bring once implemented. This is where awareness campaigns and national dialogue come into play.
He stressed the importance of focusing on financial inclusion, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence to build an integrated system, and also highlighted the need to improve internet services.
For the Benefit of Businesses
Hamdy El-Lithi, a telecommunications expert and head of the Telecommunications Division at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, stated that the future of the internet is critical as it forms the backbone of the age of artificial intelligence (AI), the fourth industrial revolution, and big data. As such, it is essential to take all necessary measures to provide investors, companies, and institutions with the internet protocols they need to facilitate the exchange of data between millions of devices. This can be achieved through the transition to IPv6.
He added that Egypt had been somewhat delayed in adopting the IPv6 strategy compared to other countries, but the timing of its launch now reflects the government’s seriousness in closing this gap and preparing for future digital transformations. He pointed out that concerned authorities are aware of the growing reliance on the internet in the future and are committed to meeting the increasing demand for internet protocols to support strategic goals and sustainable development.
El-Lithi explained that the government is working on preparing plans and adopting future strategies for implementing IPv6, including security standards, scalability, and addressing the growing demand for connectivity in the age of big data and IoT.
He also highlighted that IPv6 is not just about providing more IP addresses but represents an exceptional shift in how networks handle data through advanced routing techniques and reducing dependence on intermediary technologies, which enhances network speed and performance.
He mentioned that many business sectors in Egypt will directly benefit from transitioning to the national IPv6 strategy, as it will enable the launch of new services and applications relying on direct connectivity and offer advanced benefits in securing networks and expanding operational and commercial capabilities.
IPv4 Cones
Mohamed Ibrahim, head of the first community interaction sector at NTRA, explained that the current protocol in use is IPv4, which poses a significant problem due to the limited number of available addresses. As we move toward 5G services, which involve a large number of devices, it became crucial to introduce an internet protocol capable of supporting a larger number of addresses, alongside improvements in security and support. This led to the development of IPv6.
He added that the Egyptian government launched the national IPv6 strategy yesterday, noting that there is a future plan to implement this protocol across the country, including both government sites and other networks, whether fixed or mobile.
IPv6 usage by 2030
He continued, “We aim to reach a specific target every two years, with the goal of achieving an average of more than 80% IPv6 usage by 2030. For government sites and networks, which are vital for digital transformation, we will reach 100% IPv6 adoption by 2030, meaning all government sites and networks will use IPv6. This is crucial for citizens, and we will see significant progress.”
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Martha Mahrous, Deputy Chair of the Telecommunications and Information Technology Committee, confirmed that the launch of the national IPv6 strategy reflects Egypt’s commitment to keeping up with global technological advancements and strengthening its readiness for a future reliant on more advanced and secure technologies.
She explained that the new protocol is a vital foundation for enabling smart services, such as connected cities, IoT, and 5G services. She emphasized that transitioning to IPv6 is necessary to accommodate the massive increase in internet usage and smart devices.
She added that the ambitious targets set by the strategy, particularly the goal of reaching over 80% adoption by 2030, reflect a serious vision to enhance digital infrastructure and ensure the provision of higher quality and more efficient communication services for citizens.
The Deputy Chair of the Committee called for strengthening public-private partnerships to ensure the successful implementation of this vision, with a focus on training young talent and raising awareness about the importance of transitioning to IPv6 across various sectors.
She concluded that this step marks the beginning of a new phase of technological modernization that will positively impact the digital economy, quality of life, and the services provided to Egyptian citizens.
