Egypt officially launches its 1st smartphone 'SICO' nationwide

CAIRO – 19 February 2018: Minister of Communications and Information Technology Yasser el-Qadi and Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Moselhi launched the first Egyptian- manufactured smartphone "SICO" on Sunday.

Chairman of the Egyptian Silicon Industries Co. (E-SICO) Mohamed Salem said SICO mobile phones represent the first local brand in the industry as the percentage of local component is 45 percent, noting that it would be manufactured by the company's factory in New Assiut Park, with LE 400 million in investments, according to MENA.

The smartphone will also be distributed regionally in the African and Middle Eastern markets, with a regional guarantee, Salem added.

E-SICO is expected to be priced at an average of LE 2,000 ($112); the foreign components in the device are provided through partnership with China.

SICO Technology is planning to acquire 5 percent of Egypt’s mobile phones market share in the first year of selling.

The company’s technical centers will be in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Assiut, Sharkia and Luxor governorates.

Mobile phones subscription in Egypt recorded 110 percent by January 2017, with 98.2 million users, according to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

Meanwhile, mobile internet users registered 26.16 million subscriptions in the same month.