Complex sentence: In the same year, Telecom Egypt was awarded a license to begin mobile operations in Egypt but declined, preferring to buy an 8.6% share in Vodafone Egypt in 2003.
Split into simpler sentences: In the same year, Telecom Egypt was awarded a license to begin mobile operations in Egypt but declined. Instead, TE purchased an 8.6% share in Vodafone Egypt in 2003.