Telecommunications officials estimated the number of Eid greetings messages for Eid al-Adha this year at about 1 billion, with a total cost of LE400 million, or US$66.5 million.
A Communications Ministry report released Monday showed that the volume of text messages sent via mobile phones by Egyptians skyrocketed by 400 percent during the evening of Eid and the following days, as compared to regular days.
Eid messages often had political touches, a reflection of social and economic conditions in the country.
One Eid message frequently exchanged said, “On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, political forces agree to sacrifice Egypt without violating the law of God and rights and freedoms,” referring to extensive disagreements among political groups — especially over the application of Sharia in the articles of the constitution currently being drafted.
Other messages came to reflect the difficult economic conditions experienced by Egyptians, including: “If it were not for the [hard] conditions, I would have sent a lamb instead of the SMS.”
