Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, confirmed that the fire that broke out at the Ramses Central building at dawn—specifically at 5 a.m.—was caused by the spread of flames through the cable ducts connecting the building’s rooms. He explained that these ducts contain both data and electrical cables, which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire and the initial difficulty in containing it.
During a press conference, the minister pointed out that firefighting operations faced major challenges and continued for over 12 consecutive hours until the fire was fully brought under control. He noted that Ramses Central is one of the key components of Egypt’s telecommunications infrastructure, playing a vital role in operating various services, including e-wallets and financial transfers. These services were partially affected but did not completely stop, thanks to pre-established contingency plans.
He emphasized that Egypt’s telecom system does not rely on a single central exchange. Emergency protocols were activated, and operational loads were transferred to alternative switching centers to ensure service continuity and prevent disruption to citizens or vital sectors. He added that the country has a robust network of data centers and exchanges working in harmony to secure uninterrupted service.
Dr. Talaat also stated that the ministry has decided to temporarily isolate Ramses Central from the national information network until technical and engineering assessments are completed and the building’s safety and potential reactivation are confirmed. He assured that ministry teams are monitoring the situation closely and working to minimize any impact on users.
He further explained that the ministry has already started reviewing protection and technical safety measures across similar facilities to prevent such incidents in the future, affirming that the security of digital infrastructure and information is a top national priority.
