Since the Ethiopian government announced in 2019 that it would be liberalizing the country’s telecoms sector, there has been a flurry of interest from players all around the globe, looking to capitalize on this previously untapped market. As well as selling a minority stake in state-owned Ethio Telecom, the national regulator also plans to make two licenses available to international operators, with the tender process gaining interest from players such as Orange, STC, and MTN.
Ethiopia itself in something of a state of political unrest at the moment, with conflict taking place both within and without; a rebellion in the country’s northern Tigray region has been ongoing since before the new year, resulting in numerous deaths, while the country is also experiencing a border dispute with Sudan and another with Egypt over a dam project on the Nile. Volatile environment has not perturbed telecoms investment, however, who view the country’s population of 110 million as a potential gold mine. This interest is not only restricted to operators, but equally the vendors who will be supplying their equipment. Huawei, for example, who already has a significant presence in Africa, says it will be aiming to secure more business in Ethiopia in the future, leveraging its existing position as an equipment supplier for Ethio Telecom.