Ethiopia Expects Two New Telecom Companies by September

May 2 , 2020


By September, three full telecommunications service providers are expected to be licensed by the Ethiopian Communications Authority, the newly formed organ in charge of regulating telecom and radio frequency, including two new operators beside the existing state-owned Ethio telecom. The Authority availed a draft communication licensing directive last week that will enable it to issue licenses to full operators and class service providers. The 19-page draft, which has been availed for stakeholder consultation, states that companies with unified licenses, aka full-service providers, can deliver all mobile, internet and fixed call services to customers. Class license holders can engage with telecommunications infrastructure, internet service, value-added services, virtual internet, and hosting services, among other elements.  The three full-service operators will be licensed for 15 years, and their licenses will be subject for renewal, according to the directive, which is open for comments until May 11, 2020. The Authority also availed two more draft directives that handle dispute resolution and consumer rights and protection. The Authority aims to issue a total of 12 directives, six of which will enable the Authority to issue licenses for the new service operators.  For the issuance of the three licenses to the full-service operators, the Authority is working on a document to announce it is looking for bidders. It will then announce a tender for the companies that respond. Ethio telecom is also required to re-register.


Radar

Parliament Nods for Cabinet Appointments

Federal legislators have approved five cabinet-level positions last week with a member of Parliament (MP) voted against and two abstentions were counted. Gedion Timotheos (PhD) leads the charge as the new minister of Foreign Affairs, filling in Taye Asqeselassie's shoes, where he stayed briefly before becoming the country's president. With law degrees from Addis Abeba and Central European universities, Gedion was previously Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Joining him in the redev...


Radar

Abyssinia Group Eyes Expansion with IFC Funding

Abyssinia Group of Industries (AGI), a leading East African steel producer, is poised for significant expansion owing to a proposed investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which is considering a financing package of up to 50 million dollars, including parallel loans in local currency. Headquartered in Kenya, AGI operates two steel plants in Ethiopia, six in Kenya, and has mining activities in Uganda. AGI currently produces 660,000 metric tons of steel annually and employs...


Radar

Fitch Acknowledges Easing Financial Pressures, Enhanced Macroeconomic Stability

Fitch Ratings has upgraded Ethiopia's Long-Term Local-Currency Issuer Default Rating (LTLC IDR) to 'CCC+' from 'CCC-', citing easing financing pressures, improved macroeconomic stability, and increased confidence that local-currency obligations will not be part of the ongoing debt restructuring. This positive development comes as the government implements key reforms and secures renewed concessional external financing. The ratings agency has taken note of the introduction of a market-based ex...


Back
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email