(Ecofin Agency) - Ethiopia has decided to create a new telecom regulator to “restructure the telecommunications market and build competition”. The decision, which has been submitted for the approval of the house of representatives, was taken during the fourteenth extraordinary meeting of the ministerial council of February 4, 2019.

The government, which wants the regulator to be independent, transparent and liable, indicated that it would be in charge of "implementing communication services policies, regulating the services fees according to regulatory provisions, supervise operators as well as modifying, renewing or cancelling licences”.  

This is the starting point of an opening of the Ethiopian telecom market, which has long been monopolised by incumbent operator Ethio Telecom, to foreign investors.

The regulator will have an administrative board, a managing director and deputy directors (if necessary) placed under the supervision of the prime minister.