Mubarak has also ordered the shutting down of the mobile phone networks (Vodoafone says) in several areas of the country.

By 2011, the three operators expect to start 3g services all over China, a move which analysts predict will spur further massive growth in mobile Internet use.

In total, the number of fixed and mobile phone users reached 982.04 million, an increase of 69.09 million as compared with that at the end of 2007.