GPE promises digital transformation following Telecom award

The consortium of conglomerate, Global Partnership for Ethiopia (GPE) welcomes the license award to operate telecom services in Ethiopia.
Two days after the license award announcement was made by the Council of Ministers, GPE, that includes; Safaricom, Vodacom Group, Vodafone Group, Sumitomo Corporation, and CDC Group of UK’s development finance institution and impact investor announces that a new operating company in Ethiopia aims to start providing telecommunications services from the first quarter of 2022.
Vodafone Group’s CEO, Nick Read, said this is a significant development for Ethiopia, which is one of the last very large markets in the world to introduce telecom competition.
On the press release sent to Capital it stated that the Global Partnership for Ethiopia was created to bring about transformational economic and social impact in the country.
“The provision of accessible, affordable and high quality mobile and internet connectivity by the Partnership will enable greater social inclusion as millions more Ethiopians access quality telecom services,” it says on its statement, and added that increased connectivity in Ethiopia will also boost the economy, impacting over 1 million jobs with digital training and skills, and bringing about productivity improvements for countless micro-entrepreneurs and small and medium sized enterprises.
“In past years, we have seen the power of digital transformation and its impact on our customers. We believe by working with all stakeholders in Ethiopia, we can deliver a similar transformation while achieving a sustainable return to our shareholders,” Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, said.
The Vodacom Group CEO, Shameel Joosub, on his part said the consortium partners have a great track record for delivering transformative technology services, particularly when it comes to health, education and agriculture, built on quality telecom networks.
“We want to make a real difference to the lives of Ethiopians through promoting widespread digital inclusion as part of Vodacom’s pledge to connect the next 100 million Africans by 2025,” he said.
Toshikazu Nambu, Executive Vice President & Chief Digital Officer, of the Japan based Sumitomo Corporation, said that his corporation plans to bring our ample experience in Asia and Japan and know-how for cutting edge digital transformation to a really emerging country, Ethiopia.
The consortium secured the license by USD 850 million and including the license fee it promised to invest USD 8.5 billion in the telecom industry in the coming decade.
Senior executives of the global companies are expected to visit the country in the coming couple of weeks.