- Huawei Technologies is poised to expand its footprints in Ethiopia, as the East African economy opens up its telecommunications sector.
- The company is planning to move its regional office covering about five nations from the Democratic Republic Congo to Ethiopia. Currently, it has only a country office in Ethiopia.
Huawei Technologies is poised to expand its footprints in Ethiopia, as the East African economy opens up its telecommunications sector. The company is planning to move its regional office covering about five nations from the Democratic Republic Congo to Ethiopia. Currently it has only a country office in Ethiopia.
Loise Tamalgo, Huawei’s head of public relations for 22 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, said that the strategy is to position as the main vendor of the state-owned monopoly Ethio Telecom to bid for opportunities.
Liberalisation of the telecom industry is at the top of the agenda of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The wide-ranging privatisation program is expected to bring in much needed foreign exchange and boost the economy, and also strengthen connectivity across the Horn of Africa nation.This will involve doubling of its mobile towers to about 14,000, at an investment of up to $1.1 billion, and build out its fibre-optic network from less than 30,000 km currently. The Ethiopian Communications Authority has announced its plans to sell a 40 per cent stake in Ethio Telecom and issue two new telecom licenses next year.
Mr.Tamalgo added that the firm has a long-term approach to Africa, which currently represents 5 per cent of its global revenue. Other priority markets for the company on the continent are Ivory Coast, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon.
