The Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology launched two new mobile services on Wednesday, “Etamen” (Rest Assured) and “Etamen Al-Akher” (Completely Rest Assured)—collectively known in the media as the “Child SIM”—to provide a secure digital environment for children using mobile internet, Plus Mubasher reported.
The official rollout coincided with the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) signing license annexes for the services alongside Egypt’s four major mobile network operators.
The initiative follows directives from the political leadership to strengthen cyber protection for children. Raafat Hindy, the Egyptian Minister of Communications and Information Technology, witnessed the signing ceremony marking the official launch of the services.
Striking a balance between opportunity and protection
The “Etamen” services aim to strike a balance between empowering children to leverage the vast benefits of the internet—such as education, knowledge acquisition, communication, skill development, and purposeful digital gaming—and providing Egyptian families with effective tools to shield their children from digital risks and inappropriate content. The initiative aligns with global best practices in child online safety and promotes digital literacy among both parents and children regarding safe browsing habits.
Key features of the “Child SIM”
Both services offer a safer mobile browsing experience by blocking access to harmful or age-inappropriate content. Designed for ease of use, they require no advanced setup or technical expertise from parents, operating through two distinct tiers:
The “Etamen” service
Content filtering: Provides a robust level of protection by blocking access to harmful and inappropriate content across lines with the service activated.
Safe browsing & search: Enforces safe browsing modes and activates safe search features on major search engines to enhance protection during active browsing.
Advanced cybersecurity: Delivers proactive security by blocking access to websites known for hosting malware, viruses, and cyber threats.
The “Etamen Al-Akher” service
Full base features: Includes all the security benefits available in the standard “Etamen” tier.
Social media restrictions: Blocks access to social media websites and applications, offering a stricter level of control for families wishing to restrict their children’s social media usage.
Accessibility and international standards
Account holders can subscribe to either service through the retail branches of the four mobile operators or directly via the companies’ respective mobile applications, ensuring seamless activation for Egyptian families.
The ministry noted that content classifications for what constitutes appropriate or inappropriate material were defined in strict accordance with international child online protection standards issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
