The chairman of the state-owned landline monopoly Telecom Egypt, Mohamed Salem, resigned on Saturday following the appointment of Yasser El-Kady to head the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in the new cabinet which was sworn in this morning.

In an e-mail sent to his employees, and published by Egyptian newspaper Al Mal, Salem explained that an "unfriendly working environment", among other issues, forced him to resign. 

The firm, which the Egyptian government owns an 80 percent stake in, announced plans to enhance Egypt's internet infrastructure and reduce broadband prices.

Telecom Egypt, which has a 45 percent stake in Vodafone Egypt, agreed last year to pay LE2.5 billion ($327.65 million) for a unified licence.

Although the government approved the licence last year, its activation has been repeatedly delayed, reportedly due to discord among the four companies and within the government over its details.

Salem previously held the position of Minister of Telecommunications in Essam Sharaf's cabinet in 2011.