- Title: Ethiopians welcome news of more players in country's telecoms market
- Date: 24th October 2019
- Summary: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (OCTOBER 23, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ETHIOTELECOM TOWERS EXTERIORS OF ETHIOTELECOM SIGN READING (English): "ETHIOTELECOM SALES OFFICE" MAN TEXTING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE TALKING ON THEIR MOBILE PHONES ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (OCTOBER 24, 2019) (REUTERS) WIDE OF A BROKER SHOP VARIOUS OF ASHENAFI MATEWOS, BROKER, TALKING ON HIS PHONE CLOSE UP OF ASHENAFI'S PHONES (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic) ASHENAFI MATHEWOS, BROKER, SAYING: "There's a big problem, It is difficult to even say we have a reliable reception. It comes and goes. When you say there's network then it is not properly functioning and when you give up on it, it will start working. It is the same with the internet." VARIOUS OF DOMESTIC HELPER SITTING IN ASHENAFI'S SHOP VARIOUS OF ASHENAFI TALKING WITH HIS CLIENTS CLOSE UP OF ASHENAFI HOLDING TWO PHONES ON HIS HAND (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic) ASHENAFI MATHEWOS, BROKER, SAYING: "There will be a better service if there's a market competition. I would be happy if there's a competitor and it should hurry. I don't think anyone would oppose that because they will come with a better network." WIDE OF ASHENAFI TALKING ON HIS PHONE ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (OCTOBER 22, 2019) (REUTERS) WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE BALCHA REBA, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE ETHIOPIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY, SPEAKING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic) BALCHA REBA, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE ETHIOPIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY, SAYING: "There is a condition where operators are not allowed to use contents or equipment that may damage the security or severity of the country and as in any country they will cooperate to a lawful interception and make their networks accessible to the designated legal body." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 7th November 2019 13:10
- Keywords: Ethiopia telecom Addis Ababa communication Abiy Ahmed licence
- Location: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
- City: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
- Country: Ethiopia
- Topics: Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA001B2GH1ZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: After many frustrating years, Ethiopians desperate for connectivity may finally have to stop waiting.
On Tuesday (October 22), the country's new communications regulator said it plans to award two telecoms licences to multinational mobile companies by April 2020.
Although this is an apparent delay to the timeline officials had previously set, the announcement was welcome news for many.
Ashenafi Matewos is a broker whose livelihood depends solely on a functioning telephone.
In a street corner in the capital Addis Ababa, dozens looking for casual labour work such as housemaids, waiters, plumbers, carpenters sit around Ashenafi.
They wait for him to get off the phone hoping for some good news.
Ashenafi's business is simple - he gets orders from potential employers looking for workers. He then identifies who among those around him is the right match, calls back the employers and seals the deal where the new worker is hired and picked up.
"There's a big problem, It is difficult to even say we have a reliable reception. It comes and goes. When you say there's network then it is not properly functioning and when you give up on it, it will start working. It is the same with the internet," Ashenafi said.
He gets 15 percent from each side as his commission. Simply put - no phone, no work.
No surprise, Ashenafi welcomed the news of the country's telecoms market opening up.
"There will be a better service if there's a market competition. I would be happy if there's a competitor and it should hurry. I don't think anyone would oppose that because they will come with a better network," said Ashenafi who has been doing this for the last five years.
During a news conference, Balcha Reba, director general of the Ethiopian Communications Authority, outlined the conditions for the new players.
"There is a condition where operators are not allowed to use contents or equipment that may damage the security or severity of the country and as in any country they will cooperate to a lawful interception and make their networks accessible to the designated legal body," Balcha said.
The issuing of licences will end a state monopoly and open up one of the world's last major closed telecoms markets in the country of around 100 million.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a push to liberalise the country's economy last year.
The communications regulator, formed after parliament passed a law covering the liberalisation of the sector, will hold a meeting on Nov. 12 in the Ethiopian capital to answer questions of interested companies.
Vodafone, South African operator MTN, France's Orange and Etisalat of the United Arab Emirates are likely to be among the leading contenders vying for entry into the Ethiopian market.
(Production: Kumerra Gemechu, Jackson Njehia) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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