The state giant Ethio telecom has given itself one year to prepare for new competition that will join the market when the government implements liberalisation of the sector.

The company’s three-year strategic plan that was unveiled last week assumes that there will not be other operators in the sector for a year and Ethio telecom will remain a state-owned monopoly until the end of the current fiscal year.

The plan, developed in-house, was prepared after considering and reviewing relevant government policies, international best practices and industry trends.

“We designed the strategy in a way that will make us competent, desirable and the best in the industry,” said Frehiwot Tamiru, CEO of Ethio telecom.

Ethio telecom says numerous significant analyses have been made regarding the interests of internal and external stakeholders, present company performance, internal strengths and organisational resources and capacities.

In order to cope with future competition, the three-year plan sets a goal of decreasing service prices. It also plans to provide WiFi services in public areas like stadiums and parks.

The government, as part of its economic reform, is determined to open the telecom market to two international operators that will compete with Ethio telecom. The two operators will also enter the country after passing a bidding process, which is also expected to be finalised by the third quarter of the current fiscal year.

The government also targets to complete the partial privatisation process of Ethio telecom in the coming seven months. Keeping the majority share of 51pc, the government will leave the remaining shares to a foreign company.

Though the company hopes it gets a full year to adjust for the competition, it says the strategy it prepared is flexible to accommodate changes that will happen to the contrary.

The strategic plan also aims to raise its revenue to 45.4 billion Br by turning from traditional to value-added services.