Safaricom Ethiopia and Ethio Telecom are negotiating a network sharing deal, it has been revealed. Safaricom Ethiopia is preparing to start commercial operations in March, in a market so far monopolized by the state-owned Ethio Telecom.

Anwar Soussa, CEO of Safaricom Ethiopia, has related that details of the partnership are being worked out with Ethio Telecom and Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA).

“We are currently negotiating on national roaming and infrastructure sharing in line with the telecom proclamation and regulation framework overseen by the ECA,” Mr. Soussa said.

“We are currently negotiating on national roaming and infrastructure sharing in line with the telecom proclamation and regulation framework overseen by the ECA,” Mr. Soussa said, noting that Ethio Telecom and Safaricom Ethiopia "both have a commitment to [Ethiopia's] Digital Transformation Agenda. We are currently working together to establish a ‘win-win partnership’ to achieve this."

Safaricom Ethiopia is expected to invest $8 billion on critical infrastructure and services in Ethiopia over the next decade.

Sources: Business Daily Africa, Tele Geography