no GPS use in Egypt
Published on October 13th, 2008 in gps navigation, misc news
There’s no point in getting a fancy phone with GPS or A-GPS in Egypt for the government has a strict ban on the use of such devices. Other countries where government does not want its citizens not know where they’re headed are Syria and North Korea.
The ban also includes other GPS enabled electronics such car GPS navigation systems and handheld GPS receivers.
Mobile phones like the Nokia N95, N82 as well as iPhones and some 3G phones are banned in Egypt, leaving the market deprived of the latest technology and features that are fast becoming standard in the new generation of mobile phones.
Sources say GPS is allowed if and only if you can get license after getting approval from security authorities and National Telecommunication Regulator Agency.
We’d like to hear from our Egyptian readers or other who have visited there recently…
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October 13th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Will they confiscate your GPS capable phone if they find it when you enter the country? And will they give it back?
October 14th, 2008 at 7:07 am
First, North Korea, then Syria…now Egypt!!! My vacation plans are ruined.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
No GPS in Cuba. They will confiscate the unit at the airport.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
[...] No GPS use in Egypt (Navigadget) [...]
October 15th, 2008 at 3:22 am
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October 15th, 2008 at 8:04 am
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October 17th, 2008 at 9:11 am
lol at FreddyB….
October 21st, 2008 at 10:25 am
i live in Egypt and i see police officers in egypt having an N95 :-)
give it time…
October 30th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
No, they will not confiscate your GPS capable phones. In fact those phones ARE sold in Egypt but unofficially, that is ther are not imported through regular dealers.
The lack of proper maps is going to be your problem not the handset itself :)
November 2nd, 2008 at 7:13 am
These phones are available in mostly every mobile shop in Egypt. They will not be conficated at the airport as the officals only ask for computers. A mobile is a mobile to these guys. Mobiles of all types are allowed. They have no idea what a GPS mobile is. Even if you showed this telephone to the customs officals (and who would be stupid enough to do that freely?!?) the customs guys would not even know they were GPS capable. But in doing this you still may be unlucky and have to pay a “fine” for entry if they are feeling that you could be scammed into giving away money for nothing as they will always try for anything they can get off the tourists because they are just corrupt & they think they can get away with it!! More importantly, the fact that there is no GPS maps available for Egypt makes the whole idea of bringing your phone to use in Egypt a waste of time. I bring my GPS mobile in & out of Egypt regularly since I visit Europe quite often. Even if it is supposed to be “illegal” they will still be able to work if there is a map, as mine works! If anybody knows where I can get a map of Egypt for my GPS mobile I would be very thankful!
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Long live Egypt!