Agence Ecofin TikTok Agence Ecofin Youtube Agence WhatsApp

Telecom

Ethiopian Communications Authority extends deadline for telecom license applications again

Thursday, 08 April 2021 18:20
Ethiopian Communications Authority extends deadline for telecom license applications again

(Ecofin Agency) - The Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) announced this week it has further extended by 19 days the deadline for bidding for the two new telecom licenses, which have officially been on sale since November 27, 2020. On February 1, the initial deadline of March 5 was then extended to April 6. This second postponement sets the new deadline to April 26.

Once again, the telecom regulator explains that this decision was taken following requests from bidders. They requested more time to finalize their offer because of the market environment marked by Covid-19, ECA explained. This decision risks delaying the entire process of awarding the two licenses and the entry of new players in the telecom market.

With this new postponement, the regulator has attracted strong criticism on social media. Ethiopians who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of competition on the national telecom market are already doubting the ability of the regulator to make this liberalization a reality.

This concern was already shared by Ousmane Dione, the World Bank's director for Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan after the first deadline was extended. In an article published on February 11 on the World Bank blog, he reminded the Ethiopian government of the development issues behind opening up the telecom market to competition.

It seems that Ethiopia's telecom regulator is doing so to maximize the number of companies competing and increase its chances of selecting the best bidders, both technically and financially.

Muriel Edjo





 
Finance


 
Mining


 
Public Management


ECOFIN AGENCY offers a selection of articles translated from AGENCE ECOFIN. Founded in 2011, Agence Ecofin is a leader in Francophone Pan-African economic news, particularly in West and Central Africa. The agency publishes daily news on nine African economic sectors: Public Management, Finance, ICT, Agribusiness, Energy, Mining, Transport & Logistics, Communication, and Training.

AGENCE ECOFIN
Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Genève
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11

EDITORIAL TEAM
redaction@agenceecofin.com

ADVERTISING SALES
Benjamin FLAUX
bf@agenceecofin.com
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72

 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.