Ethiopia’s move to bar foreign telcos slows liberalisation  

MOBILE

Ethiopia had invited foreign firms to buy stakes in Ethio Telecom to end its monopoly. FILE PHOTO | NMG

The Ethiopian government has suspended the entry of foreign telecom infrastructure companies into the country, possibly slowing down the enthusiasm that arose after authorities announced plans to liberalise the market.

The decision, however, may not affect foreign telecom service providers and operators such as Kenya's Safaricom and its parent company Vodacom, who had submitted expression of interest in buying a stake in Ethio Telecom.