INTERVIEW: STARLiNK Plans to Double Its Partners in Egypt as Part of Regional Expansion Strategy

STARLiNK, a leading company in cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and network solutions across the Middle East and Africa, is witnessing rapid expansion in the Egyptian market amid growing demand for cybersecurity and digital transformation solutions. The company aims to double its partner base and reach approximately 1,000 potential customers in the near future. This expansion is driven by accelerated transformations in the banking, fintech, and government sectors, which are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence and advanced digital infrastructure technologies.

As part of the Infinigate Group, Europe’s largest distributor of cybersecurity solutions, STARLiNK works to bring the latest global technologies to the Middle East and Africa markets, focusing on building an integrated ecosystem of local partners and delivering comprehensive solutions encompassing cybersecurity, cloud, networking, and intelligent automation.

In a Exclusive Interview with Fintech Gate, Amr Al Awady, Country Director for Egypt and Sub-Saharan Africa at STARLiNK, stated that Egypt has become one of the company’s most important markets in the region, achieving nearly 20% annual growth. This growth is fueled by strong demand from the banking sector, which accounts for around 60% of the company’s business, alongside notable expansion in government entities and startups.

Interview by: Shaimaa Abu Al-Nasr

Q: Could you start by telling us a bit about STARLiNK’s presence in the region and its connection to the global market?

A: STARLiNK is an integral part of the Infinigate Group, the largest distributor of cybersecurity in Europe. Our headquarters are in Dubai, UAE, and we maintain a strong network of regional offices across the Middle East. Egypt is a primary target market due to its immense potential, which is why we are aggressively expanding our team, physical presence, and service offerings in the country.

Q: What makes the Egyptian market so attractive in ICT and AI technologies?

A: The Egyptian market is evolving rapidly. Data is becoming the “new oil” or “new gold,” and as data grows, so does the demand for sophisticated management and protection. We are seeing significant development in the banking sector, government initiatives, and the oil and gas industry. These sectors require more than traditional vendors; they need cutting-edge solutions in AI, intelligent automation, and cybersecurity.

Q: How is STARLiNK integrating AI and other new technologies into its portfolio?

A: AI is at the heart of our current expansion. We are working with top-tier vendors to bring “Intelligent Automation” to Egypt. Many partners are injecting AI into their core offerings; a notable example is Trend Micro, which has evolved its offering into Trend AI. This technology automates about 50% of the manual protection tasks, simplifying engineers’ workloads and allowing them to focus on higher-level strategy.

Q: Who are the primary clients you are targeting in Egypt?

A: We serve a wide range of segments. Banking and FinTech are our largest and most critical sectors, followed by government entities focused on national infrastructure and the oil and gas industry, which has a high demand for specialized security. For commercial SMEs, we offer Security Operations Center (SOC) services via subscription, making high-end security accessible at a fraction of the usual cost, ranging from $15,000 to $20,000 instead of a million-dollar investment.

Q: Can you highlight some of the new products or partnerships being launched in Egypt?

A: We are introducing several specialized vendors to address specific gaps in the market. Skyhigh Security provides comprehensive data protection. Akamai focuses on micro-segmentation and API security solutions, essential for the banking sector. Cycognito, recently acquired by ThreatQuotient, offers advanced platform-wide security. Additionally, we are focusing heavily on Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) to protect the remote workforce. Whether employees are on office Wi-Fi, home networks, or in public spaces, we provide end-to-end protection against viruses and unauthorized access.

Q: What is STARLiNK’s ultimate goal in Egypt over the coming period?

A: Our goal is to be an end-to-end partner for our customers. We don’t just sell products; we provide consultation, sit with clients to analyze their departments and connectivity, and ensure their entire environment—from laptops to the cloud—is secure. By representing top global vendors like IBM, Thales, and Riverbed, we ensure that Egyptian businesses have access to the best technology worldwide.

Q: Could you explain STARLiNK’s business model in Egypt?

A: In Egypt, STARLiNK operates as a value-added distributor. We do not sell directly to end-users. Instead, we support a robust ecosystem of partners and system integrators such as Raya, Barkou, and GTS. We act as a bridge, bringing top-tier global vendors to the Egyptian market while providing technical and sales expertise to help our partners succeed.

Q: How has the team evolved to meet growing demand?

A: We are in a phase of massive expansion. This year, we have doubled our sales and technical teams in Egypt. Currently, we serve over 250 clients across public and private sectors, including heavy involvement in banking and FinTech. With the expanded team, our goal is to double the client base to 500 by the end of the year.

Q: What is the unique value proposition that STARLiNK offers to its customers?

A: We provide a one-stop-shop experience. Instead of managing multiple vendors for different needs, clients receive end-to-end integrated solutions covering infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, and IoT. By integrating these services seamlessly, we reduce operational and cost burdens while ensuring the highest quality of service through our expert engineering teams.

Q: Which sectors are being prioritized for growth?

A: While we are very strong in banking and government, we are aggressively targeting the FinTech sector this year. Additionally, we see massive potential in oil and gas and heavy industries, which are undergoing rapid digital transformation and have a critical need to secure their data, aligning perfectly with our portfolio.

Q: How does Egypt compare with other markets in the region?

A: STARLiNK has been active in the Middle East and Africa for 21 years, generating $1bn in revenue across the region last year. Within Africa, Egypt is our top-performing market in terms of revenue, followed by Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Morocco. Globally, we are targeting a 20–25% growth rate for the coming year.

Q: What is the ultimate goal for STARLiNK in the near future?

A: We aim to continue doubling our impact. We are expanding from 20 to 40 key partners in Egypt this year to reach approximately 1,000 potential customers. Our mission is to simplify technology for clients, delivering the best solutions at the lowest possible cost with the highest service quality.

Q: Looking at the Arab world more broadly, especially regarding cybersecurity and AI, where are we headed by 2030?

A: The trajectory is steep. We expect spending on cybersecurity in Arab markets to increase by at least 15% annually through 2030. Post-COVID reliance on digital meetings and data-heavy interactions has made cybersecurity a non-negotiable requirement. Our focus is on providing full-fledged solutions—a complete, integrated service rather than a single product.

Q: How does Egypt compare in this regional landscape?

A: Egypt is performing exceptionally well. The Central Bank of Egypt has been a visionary leader, often ahead of other central banks in Europe and the region regarding security frameworks. Egypt also serves as a hub for STARLiNK, with a dedicated team of engineers exporting technical services and expertise to the rest of the Arab world, Europe, and the US.

Q: What is STARLiNK’s growth like specifically in Egypt?

A: We are seeing consistent year-on-year growth of about 20% across both technology and outsourcing services. Banking remains our largest business segment, roughly 60% of our portfolio, followed by the government sector at 20%. The startup scene is also flourishing, with small teams of 5 to 10 people producing remarkable work, and we expect them to leapfrog many established players in the coming years.

Q: Final thoughts on STARLiNK’s role in the region?

A: At STARLiNK, we do not just sell products; we provide integrated security foundations that allow the region’s digital economy to thrive.

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