Ethiopia plans to split state telecoms provider into two before privatization

Reuters | Ethiopia will split its state telecoms provider into 2 businesses before it is privatized, state-affiliated media reported on Monday, a key part of government’s plan to open up one of the world’s last major closed telecoms markets.

The government will split Ethio Telecom into 2 business units along infrastructure and service sector lines, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting quoted Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide as saying.

State Minister of Finance Eyob Tekalign Tolina confirmed the report.

Ethiopia could require as much as US$2.2 billion to modernize its creaking, overburdened telecoms sector, Eyob told reporters last week.

Privatization is one of the key reforms promised by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He wants to encourage competition and foreign investment after decades of state-driven economic growth.

Ethiopia passed a bill on Thursday outlining the scope of a regulator for the telecoms sector, a key milestone towards attracting outside investment in the nation of 100 million people.