The Ethiopian Communications Authority (ATA) has announced officially to clarify some issues that have been raised in the local media with respect to the Liberalization and Privatization processes underway in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. As per this statement, Privatization is the process of partially privatizing the incumbent telecom operator which is managed by the Ministry of Finance, Ethio Telecom, and the Ethiopian Public Enterprises Holdings Agency while the Authority is primary responsibility with regards to the telecom reform agenda leading to the Liberalization process.
Further more, liberalization of the telecommunications sector essentially entails introducing competition in the sector by allowing new telecom business operators to invest in Ethiopia within government-defined policies, laws, and regulations. In this regard, the Authority currently is finalizing its responses and recommendations on the numerous questions and suggestions that have been raised by stakeholders with regards to the planned regulatory framework during the public consultation period. The Authority will also provide a timeline for the issuance of two new telecom operators shortly. Read the full statement using this link.
